VPC met with the Talbot County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on October 24th, 2017 to present findings on the Sea Level Change (SLC) and flooding projections for the County’s four Water Oriented Villages: Neavitt, Newcomb, Royal Oak, and Tilghman Island. The goal of the project is to determine which historic properties in the villages are most at-risk from flooding and sea level rise hazards, and to develop site-specific mitigation actions to help protect these buildings from these hazards, without compromising the properties’ eligibility for the State or National Register.
The SLC projections show a major shift in the shape and size of these historic villages. Long-term planning is necessary to prepare for the changing landscape on the Chesapeake Bay. VPC has developed mitigation actions for property owners to attempt to keep their properties “usable” for as long as possible.
Talbot County Historic Preservation Commissioner, Cynthia Schmidt, who acted as local expert and guide for the fieldwork component, had this to say about her experience, “The amazing visuals provided were a great addition to the final presentation, which was well received and applauded by all. You did a great job answering everyone’s questions in the field and when presenting the conclusions. The county and property owners will surely find this report as a useful tool moving forward.”
VPC’s President, Deepa Srinivasan stated, “This is a great opportunity for the County’s cultural resources and historic properties to get the importance they deserve, for mitigation as well as preservation.”
To learn more about Hazard Mitigation Planning, click here to go to our website.
