CRISFIELD — Flooding has been a problem in Crisfield and the surrounding area for decades, and it keeps getting worse, affecting businesses, residences, tourism, and transportation.

While different solutions have been discussed or tried, drainage ditches still provide one of the most effective ways to combat this problem.

The city and Somerset County government, as well as local residents, share the responsibility of maintaining these ditches.

To keep residents in and around Crisfield informed, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is conducting a free public learning session on drainage ditches and how they are a crucial part of Crisfield’s defense against flooding. Representatives from the City of Crisfield, Somerset County, and the Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative will talk about how these ditch systems work and the best practices for maintaining them. They will be available to answer any questions.

This public information session will be held on Saturday, June 22, from 10 a.m. to noon in the TidalHealth Tawes Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Community Room, at 201 Hall Highway. Interested residents can register early by following this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EPAJune22.

For further questions, contact Jenna Hartley at Hartley.jenna@epa.gov (1-919-541-2154) or the Salisbury University Business Economic and Community Outreach Network (BEACON) team at beacon@salisbury.edu (410-546-6001).