Maryland Port Administration -
Dredged Material Management Program
CHANGING HEARTS AND MINDS ABOUT DREDGED MATERIAL
Located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, the Port of Baltimore is a multi-billion dollar economic engine for the State of Maryland. While the Port’s inland location offers strategic advantages, operating in the Chesapeake Bay presents significant sustainability challenges, especially when it comes to managing the material that must be dredged from Baltimore Harbor in order to facilitate passage of the largest cargo ships, driving the regional economy.
The Dredged Material Management Program (DMMP) of the Maryland Port Administration guides the management of sediment removed from the shipping channels. Through extensive collaboration and technological innovation, the sediment is being used to benefit the Chesapeake Bay and the region’s citizens - restoring eroding islands, creating new habitat for endangered wildlife, and making useful products.
A win for the economy; a win for the planet.
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Despite being a major economic engine in the region, the economic and environmental impacts of the Port of Baltimore and its DMMP has historically had low visibility, making policy and permitting progress difficult. Further, the public was unaware of the potential benefits of the Port’s dredging work, often opposing efforts for fear of negative impacts.
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In close collaboration with the Maryland Port Administration, Council Fire worked to:
Forge a partnership between local, state and regional government and nonprofit entities based on trust, shared objectives, and the promise of mutually-beneficial outcomes to open the door to new policies and facilitate permits.
Collaborate with communities and public interest groups through stakeholder engagement efforts focused on resident input, education and partnerships.
Develop recreational and educational community assets in conjunction with the new port facility including the near net-zero the Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center and public access to the environmentally remediated waterfront areas.
Generate awareness of and excitement about the success of the DMMP’s environmental and community programs.
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Growing support for the DMMP program has enabled a 50’ channel depth, allowing the Port of Baltimore to be one of only four Eastern U.S. ports to offer the largest ships in the world a place to load and unload their cargo.
New awareness of the Port’s sustainability and educational efforts generated goodwill with stakeholders changing attitudes about the Port’s environmental and social impacts.
Port employees outside of the DMMP initiative were excited to learn about the unexpected ways the Port was benefiting the region.
Public officials were positively influenced by the on-going outreach campaign efforts and have supported important new policy initiatives.
Overwhelming use of the video tours far surpassed expectations and demonstrated the need for this kind of virtual interaction with the Port.
Designation of the Masonville Cove site as the first Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership in the United States.
35,000 students (and growing annually) served through Masonville Cove programs.
$2 million in incremental revenue, a 100% increase of the Initial seed funding (and more coming each year).
4,000 community volunteers donating over 20,000 hours of time towards the success of the operation.
251 bird species identified on-site, including Baltimore City’s only pair of nesting bald eagles.
COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS
Using Film to Connect
A series of seven educational films have been featured on MPA and DMMP websites and social media, shared at events and forums, and viewed by policymakers, regulators, community members, and other stakeholders. These films showcase DMMP stories and sites, revealing their many attributes, explain complicated technical details in a consumable way, and communicate the ecological and community benefits of the dredging program.
The View From Above
Our virtual tour series brings these fascinating technological wonders directly to interested stakeholders. This one features the Cox Creek site which the Maryland Port Administration purchased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1997 and started placing dredged material in 2005. Cox Creek remains active today and is being expanded to include an adjacent site that was the former Kennecott Copper Refinery. Once completed it will comprise a total of 237 acres.
The Cox site also includes 126 acres of preserved wetlands, known as Swan Creek. This has become a resting spot for migratory and resident birds and one of Maryland’s top birding spots.
Annual Reports
Each year, we prepare the MDOT MPA Dredged Material Management Program Annual Report which provides a consumable and visually-appealing overview of the long-term dredged material management plans, highlighting accomplishments for the year, and providing future recommendations.
Compelling Collateral
This poster series creatively communicates the many Port and community benefits of the dredged material placement sites including historic island restoration, erosion mitigation, educational programming, habitat creation, nature sanctuaries, and outdoor recreation in addition to the tremendous economic benefits a thriving Port of Baltimore brings to Maryland and the region.
Just the Facts
Council Fire developed and maintains a series of fact sheets of Dredged Material Management Program elements highlighting key metrics and points of success to inform legislators, regulators, community groups and internal constituencies about benefits and recent developments.
Website Development
Council Fire developed and maintains a digital home for the Dredged Material Management Program, combining detailed program-related content with timely updates, to ensure that DMMP participants and other stakeholders have access to critical information.
