Office of United States
Rep. John Sarbanes | 
Office Mayor Gavin Buckley CITY OF ANNAPOLIS |
PRESS RELEASE
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
Media Contacts:
City of Annapolis: Mitchelle Stephenson, 410-972-7724 or mwstephenson@annapolis.gov;
Rep. John Sarbanes: Natalie Young, Natalie.Young@mail.house.gov
Sarbanes, Buckley to Make Earth Day Announcement on Climate Resilience Investments at City Dock
Annapolis, MD (April 21, 2022) – At 11 a.m. on Friday, April 22, U.S. Representative John Sarbanes and Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley will spotlight new federal investments to strengthen climate resilience at Annapolis City Dock. They are joined by local businessman Ryan Lamy, whose “Pip’s Dock Street Dogs” restaurant is on Dock Street in the historic district.
On Earth Day, Rep. Sarbanes and Mayor Buckley announced $300,000 in new funding for flood protection, stormwater management and resiliency measures at Annapolis City Dock and highlighted other robust federal investments to combat the effects of climate change and sea level rise. These investments were included in the recently-enacted Fiscal Year 2022 (FY 22) omnibus spending package. They will also spotlight investments aimed at boosting climate resilience made by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Highlighting the importance of these efforts to the regional economy and quality of life for residents across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Rep. Sarbanes and Mayor Buckley will call for continued action to provide communities, especially those disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change, with the resources to withstand extreme weather and sea level rise.
Business owner Lamy had regular flooding events that caused his business to close - sometimes for a few hours, sometimes for days - until 2019 when the Annapolis Department of Public Works installed temporary pumps into the storm drains. Instead of 45 to 60 flood days per year, Lamy has only had a handful of closures for flooding since the pumps were installed.
Overall, the City of Annapolis plans a more than $40 million revitalization effort, “Reimagining of City Dock.” The raising of the City Dock area will begin in 2023 and will include the installation of pumps, floodgates, and the creation of a programmable public space. Together with the rebuild of Hillman Garage, these will be the largest infrastructure projects in municipal history.
“As the result of climate change, homes and businesses of Annapolis residents flood repeatedly each year,” said Rep. Sarbanes. “The federal investments highlighted today will support the City of Annapolis’ extensive revitalization projects, strengthen the Annapolis City Dock against coastal flooding and help to secure the local economy and community for the future.”
“These changes and protections have been needed for more than a generation,” said Mayor Buckley. “We have worked to find the funding and to help our residents and businesses understand the importance of this work to preserve our historic city and secure our future. I thank our state, federal and private industry partners.”
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