Deale-Shady Side Peninsula Flood Risk Reduction Study

This report shows how at-risk different parts of the Deale–Shady Side Peninsula are to flooding. It explains what’s making it worse, like sea level rise, erosion, and poor drainage, and outlines ideas to make things better. It’s meant to help residents and community leaders understand what’s happening and plan ahead. If you’ve noticed more flooding over the years or are worried about your home, roads, or neighborhood, this report offers useful tools to think through next steps.

Each community has a “flood report card” that summarizes how vulnerable it is, what kinds of flooding are happening (like tidal or stormwater), and what issues need the most attention. This helps residents and the County prioritize which areas need action first. You can use your community’s report card to talk with neighbors, HOAs, or local officials about changes you want to see.

The project concepts are different ways to reduce flooding, like raising roads, improving drainage, or adding natural buffers. Each concept lists what community it helps, how much it might cost, and how hard it would be to build. These are not final plans, but examples of what could be done. You can use them to start conversations with your community or to ask the County for support. You can find them in Table 29 of the report.

This report is a tool. The County, Resilience Authority, and local partners are using it to guide future planning. But, community action matters, too. If your neighborhood wants to move forward on a project, this report helps make the case. Residents can also take steps on their own, like improving stormwater on private property or joining workshops to learn more.

The report discusses various funding mechanisms in the context of the Case Studies, but makes no funding obligations for any specific project. Many future projects will rely on partnerships between the County, the Resilience Authority, local nonprofits, and community members like you. There are lots of potential funding sources, including grants, small community mini-grants, low-interest loans, and even tax credits. Many of these opportunities, particularly the grants, will require teaming up with a nonprofit or government agency, and many also need neighbors to pitch in together.

Property value evaluation and modeling was not in the scope of this report. This report is not to be used to inform any property value assessment. The vulnerability analysis conducted was solely to inform and prioritize mitigation strategies, based on the best available models.

This is specific to the community and the issue at hand. The Project Concept sheets do have a qualitative urgency metric which is located near the bottom right corner of each card. Projects need to be ranked, designed, funded, and permitted before anything is built. Some concepts in the report have higher urgency, but even those take time. In the meantime, communities can plan together, explore funding options, and begin smaller, lower-cost projects if possible.

Start by reviewing your neighborhood’s flood report card and the project ideas in the report. This will give you a sense of the risks in your area and what kinds of solutions might work. From there:

• Talk with neighbors, your HOA, or local groups about shared concerns and possible next steps.
  Connect with the Watershed Stewards Academy (WSA) to request a site assessment or learn about ways to reduce flooding on your property.
• Reach out to Anne Arundel County or the Resilience Authority if you’re interested in moving a project forward. You may need to partner with a nonprofit or community association to apply for funding.
• Consider small, DIY solutions if larger projects feel out of reach, like planting rain gardens, directing runoff away from your foundation, or attending local workshops.

No matter where you start, you’ll likely need to team up with neighbors, a nonprofit, or local government to move a community-scale project forward.

• For residential or small community projects, reach out to a local nonprofit like the Anne Arundel Watershed Stewards Academy. They can help guide you and may offer resources or technical support.
• For larger projects or anything involving County infrastructure, contact either the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works Bureau of Watershed Protection & Restoration at bwprcustomercase@aacounty.org or 410-222-4240 or the Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County at resilienceauthority@acounty.org.

The Watershed Stewards Academy offers free online resources to help you manage stormwater on your property. You can also schedule a free Residential Site Assessment with a trained Watershed Steward. Plus, you may qualify for two tax credits if you install and maintain stormwater solutions like rain barrels, rain gardens, or living shorelines (Stormwater Management Property Tax Credit and the Watershed Protection & Restoration Fee Credit).

If your community only has one way in and out, or you’ve seen roads flood during storms, planning ahead is critical. Start by talking with your neighbors and HOA. You can also contact the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management at oemoutreach@aacounty.org or 410-222-0600 for guidance.

The study focused on higher-population areas, but that doesn’t mean smaller neighborhoods aren’t at risk. If you live next to a high-risk area, your community may also be impacted by flooding and sea level rise. You can still use the report to plan, organize, and prepare, even if your specific neighborhood wasn’t highlighted.

If your well or septic system is in a low-lying or frequently flooded area, it could be impacted by rising groundwater or stormwater. The report doesn’t assess individual systems, but if you’re concerned, contact the Anne Arundel County Health Department to learn more about inspections, risks, and mitigation.

Yes — while many of the long-term solutions focus on property owners, renters are part of the community too. Your voice matters. Renters can attend meetings, join local groups, advocate for safer housing, and help raise awareness with landlords or neighbors.

You’re not alone. Many residents face financial barriers. The County and nonprofits are working to expand funding and technical assistance. Some programs offer cost-sharing, grants, or workshops to support smaller fixes. Partnering with neighbors to apply for community-scale funding can also reduce costs per household.