On June 12, officials from the United States Army corps of Engineers met with Smith Island residents to discuss erosion control projects planned for the island. Work is already underway at Tylerton, where a bulkhead is being constructed to protect the small community s fragile shoreline. Daria Van Liew, project supervisor, reported that 400 feet of bulkhead is already in place, with the rest expected to be completed by October.
Plans are also underway to upgrade the sewage treatment plants on the island.
According to Corps of Engineers officials, the aim is to improve the efficiency of the plants and reduce maintenance. Lagoons will be installed to enhance the treatment process. Lagoons will also be installed at the Tylerton plant, and two steel tanks will be replaced with fiberglass tanks. Kevin Smith with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced an erosion control project for Ewell that will be funded by the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Two barrier islands will be constructed in the shallow waters near Pitchcroft to slow damage to the worn bulkhead there that has been partially washed away by wave action.