CRISFIELD — On Saturday, April 26, the Crisfield Resilience Academy is inviting the public to an interactive event at the Crisfield Library to learn about efforts to build resilience to coastal flooding and protect natural resources in the area.

The City of Crisfield recently partnered with researchers at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development to explore coastal resilience solutions. These solutions, such as marsh restoration and living breakwaters, can help protect Crisfield from the impacts of storms and benefit local fisheries, residences, drinking water, tourism, and business.

Through that partnership, locals from Somerset County have been participating in an educational training opportunity called the Crisfield Resilience Academy. The Academy began offering sessions in Fall 2024 for community members to discuss their experiences as residents, learn from local experts, and work together to propose practical solutions to the coastal flooding that the community experiences.

The Crisfield Resilience Academy will present its findings to the public and bring together around 15 local, environmentally related organizations for a Community Resilience Day at the library on April 26. They will present from 10 a.m. to noon. and the community networking fair will run until 2 p.m.

Activities include:

• Maryland Sea Grant will lead a tour of green infrastructure around the Crisfield Library to show how innovative technology and landscaping helps manage storm water and protect the community from flooding;

• University of Maryland’s extension office and the Master Gardener Bay Wise program will have information about plants and landscaping that thrive in the Eastern Shore’s unique environment;

• The Nature Conservancy will be available to discuss upcoming environmental internship and career opportunities;

• The Mid-Shore Chapter of the Izaak Walton League will have hands-on kits to demonstrate opportunities to engage with local water quality-focused citizen science projects;

• Representatives from the City of Crisfield will be on hand to answer questions about ditch maintenance and discuss upcoming area clean-up and beautification days;

• Salisbury University’s Business Economic & Community Outreach Network (BEACON) will be collecting and preserving Crisfielders’ stories in the library study room; and

• Scientists from TetraTech will lead an interactive marsh birding experience on the library porch;

All are welcome to this family-friendly event. For further questions or more information, please contact BEACON’s John Hickman at jnhickman@salisbury.edu or EPA’s Jenna Hartley at hartley.jenna@epa.gov.