Ecological Restoration in Cape St. Claire

Building a Stronger Future for Cape St. Claire, Maryland

Situated in Annapolis, Maryland, where the Magothy River meets the Chesapeake Bay, Cape St. Claire features several community-owned waterfront properties, an asset for recreation in this community of more than 8,000 residents. In 2016, the Cape St. Claire Improvement Association (CSCIA) contracted with Biohabitats, Inc. to assess the community for potential resiliency projects. This assessment identified seven key properties for restoration. In 2018, CSCIA partnered with the Alliance to design, permit, and install two living shorelines from the seven identified sites.

Read the Cape St. ClairE Case Study

As of 2026, Cape St. Claire and the Alliance have continued their partnership to address the other environmental concerns identified in the evaluation. In this capacity the Alliance provides technical assistance, project management, and grant support.

Our Project Partners

Little Magothy River Association

Past Initiatives

Site 1

The first project, a living shoreline, was installed in 2021. The 970 linear foot shoreline restoration is located on the community’s “main beach” where the Magothy and Little Magothy Rivers meet. It features two stone breakwater structures, a stone groin, and a cobble beach to break up wave energy before it gets to the shoreline.

Dredge material from the nearby Little Magothy River channel was placed on the beach, which was then planted with native marsh grasses. The design was intended to slow erosion by reducing wave energy and accreting sand to build back a resilient shoreline.

In the summer of 2023, Alliance staff joined community members to plant native marsh grasses on the main beach.

Site 2

The second living shoreline, finished in 2022, provides protection for Lake Claire, a unique tidal lake habitat located adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay. The project strengthened a 600 linear feet barrier beach and protected 10 acres of marsh. This project’s hallmark was the placement of 45 oyster-seeded reef balls and 38 root wads placed in the water to break up wave energy to the Lake Claire shoreline and enhance aquatic habitat.

These restoration practices provide strong habitat benefits, with community members frequently observing an increase in the local fish population.

Building a More Resilient Future

To date, the Alliance has continued to partner with CSCIA advancing community restoration projects at the identified restoration sites. These projects’ goals are to mitigate erosion impacts, enhance shoreline stability, manage invasive species, reduce stormwater runoff, and improve the community’s ability to utilize the spaces.

In this next phase, the goals are to have designs and permits to address concerns from the resilience assessment. The Alliance and the community are working with Coastal Resources, Inc. to survey, design, and permit several practices across multiple sites.

Site 3 - Deep Creek

At the Deep Creek site, restoration efforts will focus on addressing stormwater impacts including erosion caused by roadway runoff from Rolling View Drive. Key objectives for this site also include shoreline stabilization practices and the management and removal of invasive species.

Site 4 - Little Magothy Park

Little Magothy Park restoration will work to enhance stormwater treatment on site. The restoration efforts will focus on removing invasive species while establishing native marsh species to stabilize the shoreline. Restoration practices while focused on shoreline stabilization and stormwater treatment will keep the communities use of the space in mind.

Site 5 - Little Magothy Pier

The Little Magothy Pier site restoration efforts focus on invasive species management and shoreline stabilization. The restoration work will additionally address stormwater concerns in the area from the gravel road that leads to the pier. The restoration practices will remain mindful of the community’s use of the space.

Site 6 - Little Magothy Pumping Station Cove

Living shoreline practices and the management of invasive species will be implemented at the cove adjacent to the Little Magothy Pumping Station to address erosion concerns.

Site 7 - Park Circle

Located across a six-acre area near Cape St. Claire Road, Park Circle Drive, and Swan Drive, the Park Circle site restoration work will address shoreline erosion and invasive species management. In addition, restoration practices to target water quality, habitat, and stabilization of the stream will be addressed.

Ask An Expert

Do you live in Cape St. Claire? Fill in your zip code to ask the Alliance your questions about the project or how you can implement green infrastructure in your yard!