Best Practices for Integrating Climate Change, Identifying Suitable Receiving Waters​

​​Table of Contents

• Introduction and What’s New in this Guidance
• Background
  
• WRE overview 
• Maryland’s Water Resources Management Framework to Protect Suitable Receiving Waters
  
• Checklist of Best Practices to Identify Suitable Receiving Waters​
  
• Overview of Maryland’s Water Resources Management Framework
  
• The Clean Water Act Framework
  
• Water Quality Standards
  
• Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment
  
• Water Quality Restoration Planning Process
  
• Water Quality Protection Process
  
• Water Quality Implementation Process
  
• Water Quality Restoration Implementation Process
  
• Water Quality Protection Implementation Process
  
• Use Attainability Analysis
  
• Flood Management Process​
  
• Integrating Water-related Climate Change Adaptation into Local Comprehensive Plans
  
• Checklist of Best Practices to Integrate Climate Change Adaptation
  
• Overview of Maryland’s Climate Planning Requirements
  
• Climate Change is Water Change
  
• Role of the Sensitive Areas Element
  
• State Guidance, Information and Tools
  
• Assessing Water Hazard Risks
  
• Account for Climate Change Adaptation in the WRE Analysis 
• Water-Related Risks: Climate Change Adaptation Needs
  
• How will Climate Change Affect Water Resource Capacities?
• How will Climate Change Affect Water Infrastructure Capacity Needs?
• How will Climate Change Impact Water Resources?
• How might Climate Change Considerations Influence Land Use Decisions?
• Strategies to Consider
  
• ​​Data and Decision-Making Tools​
  
• Considering Planned Growth and Development Impacts on Water Resources Through an Equity Lens​