Mon, 07/06/2026 - 12:00

Delaware's ocean and bay waters are worth far more than what shows up in economic reports — and a new report by University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center (UMD EFC) prepared for DNREC Coastal Programs outlines research questions to explore the expansion of marine resources value.

2026 -2027

Urban stormwater and greening practices, including green space preservation, may not score as highly as suburban or rural projects on traditional environmental metrics that funders use to select and evaluate proposals.  Although some grant programs include limited social indicators (for example, number of volunteers engaged), these measures rarely reflect the full social and economic benefits that urban greening can deliver. 

2026 - 2027

This project addresses Cecil County’s limited data on nuisance flooding—including where flooding occurs, how long it lasts, and how it affects residents, businesses, roads, and critical facilities. While the County has updated its Nuisance Flood Plan (2025) and has documented areas of concern using roadway and ditch overflow observations, dock flooding, and emergency services reports, County staff recognize that the most detailed and timely information often comes from the people experiencing flooding firsthand.

2026-2027

The rural southwest Arkansas communities of Fulton and McNab (Hempstead County) and Stamps and Lewisville (Lafayette County) face recurrent flooding, aging drainage infrastructure, and limited resources for climate adaptation planning. This project advances a community-driven watershed resilience initiative aligned with Steps 2–4 of the Steps to Resilience Framework, equipping these historically disinvested towns with the evidence, partnerships, intervention options, and financing strategies needed to implement impactful flood solutions.

2026 - 2028

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a powerful planning approach that can deliver multiple community benefits, including expanded access to jobs and services, reduced auto dependence, and stronger local economies. TOD can also be a driver for the displacement of existing residents and local businesses. In Prince George’s County, Maryland, these challenges intersect with a growing risk: many existing and planned transit stations sit in or are adjacent to floodplains.

2026

Mobilize Frederick is developing a coordinated Urban and Community Forestry Strategic Plan that brings tree canopy expansion, workforce development, and community-based engagement into a unified, actionable framework. This effort supports the city’s goal of achieving 40% tree canopy coverage while advancing near-term priorities such as planned tree plantings and the training and employment of local youth.  EFC is supporting the strategic planning process, assisting with coordination, stakeholder engagement, and draft strategy development.  

2025 - 2026

Maryland has committed to rapidly expanding the production of renewable energy – including solar – while also maintaining strong commitments to land conservation and farmland preservation. While these priorities are not inherently incompatible, they do create practical questions about where renewable energy infrastructure should be located, how agricultural land should be protected, and whether new models of shared land use can help reduce conflict.

2026

Following a successful partnership with the 2025 workshop, Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) Department of Sustainability and Resilience (DSR) partnered with EFC to design and deliver PGCPS’s 3rd Annual Sustainability and Climate Leadership Summit at the Patuxent Research Refuge’s National Wildlife Visitor Center in Laurel, MD.

2026

EFC, in partnership with Blue Strike Environmental, is supporting the development of the City of Gaithersburg’s Climate Action Plan (CAP). The CAP will establish a comprehensive, data-driven roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance climate resilience, and advance equitable sustainability strategies aligned with Maryland’s climate goals and regional best practices. EFC is serving as a local technical advisor and community engagement partner, providing: