Taking a Pier into the Future: Diverse BMPs to Restore North Point State Park

This article uses the case study of North Point State Park on the Chesapeake Bay near Baltimore, Maryland to demonstrate the use of diverse personnel and best management practices (BMPs) to restore a fishing pier. The author reviews the history of the park, its revitalization as a fishing and recreational park, deterioration of the pier over time, and the decision-making process by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as it begin to seek creative solutions for the problem. The core span of the jetty, stretching 1,000 feet into the bay, was also as degraded as the fishing pier at the end. DNR wanted to keep the project similar to its original footprint and minimize environmental impact of any restoration. The pier measures approximately 36 feet wide and must be built to withstand overtopping by the saltwater of the bay on a regular basis. The company hired to do the work, Coastal Design, used a Link-Belt excavator to grasp the boulders and lay them with precision. A naturalistic wetland feature was added where the structure ties into the shoreline. The engineers opted for porous pavers to construct a new promenade. The article includes numerous quotes from members of the different teams and companies who worked on the project.