Across Delmarva, land use decisions shape water quality, economic development, and community resilience. This spring’s Wandering Waterways tour brought together 31 local leaders from Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia to explore creative funding models and real-world success stories that demonstrate how effective land use planning can strengthen both the environment and the economy. Get a first-hand look at day one of the tour!

Day two kicked off with a “BMP-Buffet” hosted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Caroline County Planning and Codes Department, and the Town of Greensboro. Local leaders explored various nature-based solutions that use plants and natural systems to reduce local flooding and clean stormwater before it reaches nearby waterways. Some practices explored were permeable pavers, rain gardens, conservation landscaping, and regenerative stormwater conveyance. The site visit highlighted maintenance requirements, design and permitting support, and most importantly, identifying potential funding sources for implementation. Jay Meashey of the City of Laurel, MD shared that “the tour is a great opportunity for a public servant that doesn’t have a big travel budget to meet fellow regional leaders and learn in person about innovative strategies to enhance the Chesapeake Bay and our whole ecosystem.”

Carrie Decker, MDNR, discusses how the constructed wetland is mitigating flooding and reducing pollution.

The tour then headed to Fair Hill Farm for an immersive look at a 1,400-acre organic dairy operation. This working landscape is a model of how multigenerational farms can use land preservation as a springboard for modernization and environmental stewardship. Local leaders learned about the farm with the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), which utilized conservation easements to reinvest in the farm’s future and advance systems that protect the nearby Chester River.

Local leaders explore the facilities at Fair Hill Farm.

Local official visits with farm residents!

The final stop of the tour demonstrated the intersection of municipal utility management and renewable energy innovation. Local leaders visited a solar project at Chestertown’s waste treatment facility and heard about funding and coordination with the Maryland Energy Administration and how the site could pilot floating solar panels on treatment ponds. This emerging solution maximizes energy production without consuming working lands, a key challenge to sustainable energy growth on the shore.

Local leaders with Chestertown staff and volunteers learn about how the town is utilizing, and paying for, solar projects that power town infrastructure.

These tours are designed to educate local leaders and inspire them to take action in their communities. Debra Sewell, Town of Federalsburg, described the two-day experience as “Chock full of ideas and resources. An excellent opportunity to meet the key people in the agencies that are helpful in achieving these projects. A tremendous opportunity to network with other municipal leaders”.

The tour was hosted in partnership with the Delaware League of Local Governments, the Maryland Association of Counties, the Maryland Municipal League, the Virginia Association of Counties, and the Virginia Municipal League. The Campbell Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Program provided funding.

Where is Wandering Waterways Going Next?

Since its pilot in 2019, the Wandering Waterways series has gathered 330 local officials for 15 different tours across all jurisdictions within the watershed to learn about green stormwater infrastructure, innovative agricultural practices, clean water initiatives, and more.

This year, the Wandering Waterways series will head back to Maryland to explore strategies for managing stormwater, mitigating flooding, and reducing pollution in ways that meet community needs and priorities. Stay tuned for more Wandering Waterways stories!

Are you interested in collaborating on a future Wandering Waterways tour? Complete this interest form!