Eagle Harbor, Maryland, USA

 
Aerial map of Eagle Harbor, showing town boundary and adjoining Patuent River

Eagle Harbor, Maryland. Aerial view on the banks of the Patuxent River.

Nature Based Solutions for Clean Water and Coastal Resilience in Eagle Harbor, MD

Problem

The town of Eagle Harbor, Maryland is the last historically African-American waterfront community in the entire Chesapeake Bay. This project addresses legacy air and water pollution contamination impacts from the Chalk Point Generating Station, a formerly coal-fired power plant located adjacent to the community. According to Maryland’s EJScreen tool, Eagle Harbor scores in the 79th percentile for EJ Index Wastewater Discharge, and carries a higher environmental burden than 51-75% of the rest of the state. Eagle Harbor is located directly North of Chalk Point Generating Station, a historically coal-fired power plant opened in 1964 on the Patuxent River. Scant environmental data exists to help Eagle Harbor residents and decision-makers clearly understand the impacts of the power plant on their drinking water, coastal ecosystems, soils, and public health.

Solution

This project will gather baseline data about the current status of drinking, coastal water, and soil quality in Eagle Harbor, particularly evaluating impacts from the power plant and septic infrastructure. The project is a collaboration among local community organizations, community members, scientists, environmental engineers, educators and policymakers to clearly define water quality, soil, and health impacts in Eagle Harbor, and track improvements from the implementation of nature-based restoration techniques.

Implementation

The project team will meet regularly, with community members and leaders guiding the discussion to collaboratively identify priorities and research needs. We will analyze drinking water, groundwater, and soil health in the town, as well as environmental conditions in the adjacent Patuxent River.

We will conduct water quality testing in the coastal environment, including measuring chlorophyll A and optical brighteners (components of laundry detergents). Bacterial levels will be estimated using indicator bacteria. Real-time water quality data sensors will be deployed to gather long-term data that can be analyzed and shared with the community and stakeholders. We will coordinate baseline testing of crabs and oysters to evaluate water quality and environmental conditions in the Patuxent River adjacent to Eagle Harbor. This information can be used to support a strong case for necessary actions to reduce environmental impact in the community.

Outcomes

Our team will develop a Community Based Action Plan to identify and address soil and water contamination in Eagle Harbor. We will conduct scientific analysis and testing to inform restoration activities, and implement early action projects to quickly address highest priority restoration needs.

This project is beginning in late winter 2024. Updates to follow!

Funders and Partners

Larry Davis, Lead Consultant & Green Infrastructure Specialist, Green Mechanics BLLC (a social benefit corporation); Town of Eagle Harbor Commissioners and Mayor; Fred Tutman, Patuxent Riverkeeper; Peter May, Ph.D., Asst Research Professor, University of Maryland; Environmental Finance Center, University of Maryland; Dr. Birthe Kjellerup’s lab, University of Maryland; Patuxent Environmental & Aquatic Research Laboratory (PEARL), Morgan State University

Town of Eagle Harbor logo. An eagle and anchor within a circle. Text on the circle reads "Town of Eagle Harbor, Incorporated 1929"
Green Mechanics, BLLC logo. A green plant grows within a green machine gear. A raised fist rises from water against a background of green trees, holding a wrench.
"Patuxent Riverkeeper" is written over a sunrise and splash of water. Cattails sit in the water next to the words. The "X" in the river's name is in the form of a heron taking flight.
"University of Maryland, 1856" is written between two circles outlining a globular Maryland State flag.
Newspaper article with photo of the Patuxent River, vegetation growing from a sandy shore. The water ripples lightly. Short trees grow on the far bank. The title: "Eagle Harbor activists hope federal aid will hlep boost environmental restoration."

Patuxent River by Eagle Harbor

Pier at Eagle Harbor

Coleman Creek

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