MCBP presentation highlights resilience project at Jenkins Point

(Nov. 22, 2021) A Maryland Coastal Bays Program presentation on Saturday was a step toward launching a new resilience project at Jenkins Point in Ocean Pines.  

Steve Farr, the watershed coordinator for Maryland Coastal Bays Program, said addressing the Association Board was part of the process of applying for a Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant to get the project started. 

Farr said Jenkins Point is on the Isle of Wight Bay, just offshore of the Ocean Pines Yacht Club.  

“There's been significant erosion all along that area ... Jenkins Point was once a solid peninsula,” Farr said, adding the area is now barely visible and has “almost disappeared.” 

“Last year, we approached … [Ocean Pines Board member] Doug Parks to consider some opportunities for resilience projects, because we knew that Maryland DNR had put out this [request for proposals] and they were looking for opportunities to protect community assets as well as protect habitats,” Farr said. “We looked at several opportunities in Ocean Pines, and Jenkins Point really popped out above anything else.” 

Farr said Maryland Coastal Bays Program submitted a proposal to DNR about this time last year, but the project was not selected.  

“We were given indications that it was very close. It was on the edge [and] if they had more money, they hopefully would have approved it,” he said. “We have since had discussions with DNR and they have encouraged us to submit another proposal for this project. In the interim, they also said one of the main reasons why it did not rate higher relative to others was that there was no local cost share offer.” 

Farr said he brought that to Parks’ attention, and the Board last summer approved $10,000 in matching funds.  

“That's always a big help with grants like these … to show local skin in the game,” Farr said.  

He said the project budget is roughly $80,000, which would be limited to design and permitting.  

“It would not involve actually moving forward with implementation,” he said. “If design and the permitting is achieved, what happens with these grants is that DNR will provide funding for construction without necessarily any participation from the local community ... there's no financial commitment from Ocean Pines Association beyond the $10,000 that was approved last year.” 

Association President Larry Perrone asked if DNR would later expect Ocean Pines to contribute a substantial amount of money for what he said could become “a multi-million-dollar project.”  

“My answer would be that we are working with DNR ... with a similar grant program for a project in Chincoteague Bay, and they are fully funding” that program, Farr said. “But we would work with you to seek other grants if the DNR funding was not enough to move forward with the project … there are other opportunities to get money for project like this.”