Some of you have perhaps noticed that there is very little public access to the waterfront in Maryland's portion of the Chesapeake Bay. When I first got here, this astounded me: my husband and I were asked to leave Harborview when once, on a walk around our old Federal Hill neighborhood, we ventured to the water and the pier. (Apparently, something gave away that we didn't live/belong there.)

Another time, on Tilghman Island, I found that the public area was so small that my "walk" took about five minutes. Even Public Landing, despite the name, could use more public space.

Now comes a report from Maine Sea Grant that this problem is a national one. Though the report cites Annapolis for having good waterfront access due to City Dock, it takes some other cities and towns to task for not having enough public access. It discusses all the potential conflicts and suggests we all try to get along and work together to combat problems like sea level rise. The Sea Grant Web site has other interesting tidbits, too, if you have some time to take a look.

Many thanks to colleague Candus Thomson for alerting me (and you all)  to the report...