Baltimore City government, in coordination with the South Baltimore Gateway Partnership, recently announced a plan for Climate Resiliency and Environmental Health Projects.

Last week Baltimore Cit’s Board of Estimates approved $5.1 million in funds toward creating new “constructed wetlands” within the Middle Branch of the Patapsco. The project will be administered by the South Baltimore Gateway Partnership (SBGP) in partnership with the City government.

According to the press release:

“Today’s funding announcement is a win in support of the neighbors and communities in South Baltimore, which these new wetlands will protect,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “As a port city, we must proactively support and complete these types of projects to improve Baltimore’s climate resiliency.”

The funds will contribute to the Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative (MBRI), a comprehensive implementation strategy to protect South Baltimore neighborhoods from storms and flooding while restoring the shoreline of the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River. These integral, coordinated efforts of restoring and reconnecting the Middle Branch are inclusive under the banner of the Reimagine Middle Branch project.

Phase 1 of the MBRI seeks to build wetlands and vegetated berms adjacent to Middle Branch Park in Cherry Hill and Brooklyn and adjacent to BGE’s Spring Gardens natural gas facility in Ridgely’s Cove. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will match the $5.1 million funding from Baltimore City’s Department of Public Works (DPW) with a grant of $3.5 million. The combined funds will underwrite the construction of wetlands and nature-based resiliency features at a City-owned parcel of waterfront land in Brooklyn known as “Site 5a” at South Hanover Street and Frankfurst Avenue.

Read the full press release here.