Maryland Port Administration
Transforming Baltimore's Port into a Model of Sustainable Development.
Government
Transportation
About
Located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, the Port of Baltimore is a multi-billion dollar economic engine for the State of Maryland.
"A win for the economy; a win for the planet."
While the Port’s inland location offers strategic advantages, operating in the Chesapeake Bay presents significant sustainability challenges, especially when it comes to managing the material that must be dredged from Baltimore Harbor in order to facilitate passage of the largest cargo ships, driving the regional economy.
The Dredged Material Management Program (DMMP) of the Maryland Port Administration guides the management of sediment removed from the shipping channels. Through extensive collaboration and technological innovation, the sediment is being used to benefit the Chesapeake Bay and the region’s citizens - restoring eroding islands, creating new habitat for endangered wildlife, and making useful products.
Problem
The Port of Baltimore stands as a multi-billion dollar economic engine for Maryland, supporting thousands of jobs while handling millions of tons of cargo annually. However, its strategic inland location within the sensitive Chesapeake Bay ecosystem created a complex sustainability dilemma that threatened both economic growth and environmental health.
The Port faced critical challenges:
Shipping channels required continuous dredging to accommodate larger vessels – generating millions of cubic yards of sediment annually
Limited public understanding created opposition to dredging programs, jeopardizing the Port's ability to remain competitive
Regulatory and permitting obstacles slowed essential infrastructure improvements
Lack of visibility for the Port's economic and environmental contributions undermined public and policy support
Community stakeholders viewed the Port primarily as an industrial facility rather than a potential community asset
Without innovative intervention, these challenges threatened to constrain the Port's economic potential while missing opportunities to transform dredged material from a liability into an environmental asset.
Solution
Council Fire recognized that this challenge required more than technical solutions—it demanded a systems-level transformation connecting economic, environmental, and community interests. We developed an integrated strategy that aligned stakeholders around a shared vision of prosperity and sustainability:
Systems Thinking with Local Relevance
Mapped the entire ecosystem of stakeholders from port operations to community groups, environmental advocates, and policymakers
Identified opportunities to transform dredged material management from a necessary burden into an environmental asset
Created frameworks connecting economic growth, environmental restoration, and community benefits
Radical Partnership Development
Facilitated unprecedented collaboration between government agencies, environmental organizations, and community groups
Built trust through transparent engagement processes that acknowledged concerns while highlighting shared interests
Developed a stakeholder coalition committed to both economic competitiveness and environmental stewardship
Creative Leadership
Reimagined dredged material as a valuable resource rather than waste
Conceptualized and developed Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center as a near-net-zero facility showcasing sustainable design
Designed innovative educational programs connecting port operations with environmental restoration
Action Over Abstraction
Created tangible demonstrations of environmental restoration using dredged materials
Developed virtual tour experiences making port operations accessible to the public
Implemented real-time engagement strategies connecting port employees with community stakeholders
Results
Council Fire's systems-level approach delivered breakthrough outcomes that transcended traditional port management models:
Environmental Transformation
Facilitated the designation of Masonville Cove as the nation's first Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership
Helped create habitats supporting 251 bird species, including Baltimore City's only nesting bald eagles
Contributed to the transformation of industrial areas into thriving ecological zones
Community Engagement Revolution
Engaged 4,000 community volunteers who contributed over 20,000 hours to environmental restoration
Connected 35,000+ students with hands-on environmental education programs at Masonville Cove
Transformed public perception from opposition to enthusiastic support
Economic Impact
Supported channel deepening to 50 feet, positioning Baltimore among only four East Coast ports capable of handling the world's largest cargo vessels
Helped generate $2 million in incremental revenue—a 100% increase over initial seed funding
Created sustainable funding streams that continue to grow annually
Policy Innovation
Built stakeholder coalitions that successfully advocated for new supportive policies
Created replicable models for sustainable port operations now being studied nationwide
Demonstrated how infrastructure development can simultaneously advance economic, environmental, and social goals
FAQ
01
What does it really mean to “redefine profit”?
03
What makes Council Fire different?
02
Who do you work with?
04
What does working with you actually look like?
05
How do you help organizations turn big goals into action?
06
How do you define and measure success?
More Works
©2024
Maryland Port Administration
Transforming Baltimore's Port into a Model of Sustainable Development.
Government
Transportation
About
Located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, the Port of Baltimore is a multi-billion dollar economic engine for the State of Maryland.
"A win for the economy; a win for the planet."
While the Port’s inland location offers strategic advantages, operating in the Chesapeake Bay presents significant sustainability challenges, especially when it comes to managing the material that must be dredged from Baltimore Harbor in order to facilitate passage of the largest cargo ships, driving the regional economy.
The Dredged Material Management Program (DMMP) of the Maryland Port Administration guides the management of sediment removed from the shipping channels. Through extensive collaboration and technological innovation, the sediment is being used to benefit the Chesapeake Bay and the region’s citizens - restoring eroding islands, creating new habitat for endangered wildlife, and making useful products.
Problem
The Port of Baltimore stands as a multi-billion dollar economic engine for Maryland, supporting thousands of jobs while handling millions of tons of cargo annually. However, its strategic inland location within the sensitive Chesapeake Bay ecosystem created a complex sustainability dilemma that threatened both economic growth and environmental health.
The Port faced critical challenges:
Shipping channels required continuous dredging to accommodate larger vessels – generating millions of cubic yards of sediment annually
Limited public understanding created opposition to dredging programs, jeopardizing the Port's ability to remain competitive
Regulatory and permitting obstacles slowed essential infrastructure improvements
Lack of visibility for the Port's economic and environmental contributions undermined public and policy support
Community stakeholders viewed the Port primarily as an industrial facility rather than a potential community asset
Without innovative intervention, these challenges threatened to constrain the Port's economic potential while missing opportunities to transform dredged material from a liability into an environmental asset.
Solution
Council Fire recognized that this challenge required more than technical solutions—it demanded a systems-level transformation connecting economic, environmental, and community interests. We developed an integrated strategy that aligned stakeholders around a shared vision of prosperity and sustainability:
Systems Thinking with Local Relevance
Mapped the entire ecosystem of stakeholders from port operations to community groups, environmental advocates, and policymakers
Identified opportunities to transform dredged material management from a necessary burden into an environmental asset
Created frameworks connecting economic growth, environmental restoration, and community benefits
Radical Partnership Development
Facilitated unprecedented collaboration between government agencies, environmental organizations, and community groups
Built trust through transparent engagement processes that acknowledged concerns while highlighting shared interests
Developed a stakeholder coalition committed to both economic competitiveness and environmental stewardship
Creative Leadership
Reimagined dredged material as a valuable resource rather than waste
Conceptualized and developed Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center as a near-net-zero facility showcasing sustainable design
Designed innovative educational programs connecting port operations with environmental restoration
Action Over Abstraction
Created tangible demonstrations of environmental restoration using dredged materials
Developed virtual tour experiences making port operations accessible to the public
Implemented real-time engagement strategies connecting port employees with community stakeholders
Results
Council Fire's systems-level approach delivered breakthrough outcomes that transcended traditional port management models:
Environmental Transformation
Facilitated the designation of Masonville Cove as the nation's first Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership
Helped create habitats supporting 251 bird species, including Baltimore City's only nesting bald eagles
Contributed to the transformation of industrial areas into thriving ecological zones
Community Engagement Revolution
Engaged 4,000 community volunteers who contributed over 20,000 hours to environmental restoration
Connected 35,000+ students with hands-on environmental education programs at Masonville Cove
Transformed public perception from opposition to enthusiastic support
Economic Impact
Supported channel deepening to 50 feet, positioning Baltimore among only four East Coast ports capable of handling the world's largest cargo vessels
Helped generate $2 million in incremental revenue—a 100% increase over initial seed funding
Created sustainable funding streams that continue to grow annually
Policy Innovation
Built stakeholder coalitions that successfully advocated for new supportive policies
Created replicable models for sustainable port operations now being studied nationwide
Demonstrated how infrastructure development can simultaneously advance economic, environmental, and social goals
FAQ
01
What does it really mean to “redefine profit”?
03
What makes Council Fire different?
02
Who do you work with?
04
What does working with you actually look like?
05
How do you help organizations turn big goals into action?
06
How do you define and measure success?
More Works
©2024
Maryland Port Administration
Transforming Baltimore's Port into a Model of Sustainable Development.
Government
Transportation
About
Located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, the Port of Baltimore is a multi-billion dollar economic engine for the State of Maryland.
"A win for the economy; a win for the planet."
While the Port’s inland location offers strategic advantages, operating in the Chesapeake Bay presents significant sustainability challenges, especially when it comes to managing the material that must be dredged from Baltimore Harbor in order to facilitate passage of the largest cargo ships, driving the regional economy.
The Dredged Material Management Program (DMMP) of the Maryland Port Administration guides the management of sediment removed from the shipping channels. Through extensive collaboration and technological innovation, the sediment is being used to benefit the Chesapeake Bay and the region’s citizens - restoring eroding islands, creating new habitat for endangered wildlife, and making useful products.
Problem
The Port of Baltimore stands as a multi-billion dollar economic engine for Maryland, supporting thousands of jobs while handling millions of tons of cargo annually. However, its strategic inland location within the sensitive Chesapeake Bay ecosystem created a complex sustainability dilemma that threatened both economic growth and environmental health.
The Port faced critical challenges:
Shipping channels required continuous dredging to accommodate larger vessels – generating millions of cubic yards of sediment annually
Limited public understanding created opposition to dredging programs, jeopardizing the Port's ability to remain competitive
Regulatory and permitting obstacles slowed essential infrastructure improvements
Lack of visibility for the Port's economic and environmental contributions undermined public and policy support
Community stakeholders viewed the Port primarily as an industrial facility rather than a potential community asset
Without innovative intervention, these challenges threatened to constrain the Port's economic potential while missing opportunities to transform dredged material from a liability into an environmental asset.
Solution
Council Fire recognized that this challenge required more than technical solutions—it demanded a systems-level transformation connecting economic, environmental, and community interests. We developed an integrated strategy that aligned stakeholders around a shared vision of prosperity and sustainability:
Systems Thinking with Local Relevance
Mapped the entire ecosystem of stakeholders from port operations to community groups, environmental advocates, and policymakers
Identified opportunities to transform dredged material management from a necessary burden into an environmental asset
Created frameworks connecting economic growth, environmental restoration, and community benefits
Radical Partnership Development
Facilitated unprecedented collaboration between government agencies, environmental organizations, and community groups
Built trust through transparent engagement processes that acknowledged concerns while highlighting shared interests
Developed a stakeholder coalition committed to both economic competitiveness and environmental stewardship
Creative Leadership
Reimagined dredged material as a valuable resource rather than waste
Conceptualized and developed Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center as a near-net-zero facility showcasing sustainable design
Designed innovative educational programs connecting port operations with environmental restoration
Action Over Abstraction
Created tangible demonstrations of environmental restoration using dredged materials
Developed virtual tour experiences making port operations accessible to the public
Implemented real-time engagement strategies connecting port employees with community stakeholders
Results
Council Fire's systems-level approach delivered breakthrough outcomes that transcended traditional port management models:
Environmental Transformation
Facilitated the designation of Masonville Cove as the nation's first Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership
Helped create habitats supporting 251 bird species, including Baltimore City's only nesting bald eagles
Contributed to the transformation of industrial areas into thriving ecological zones
Community Engagement Revolution
Engaged 4,000 community volunteers who contributed over 20,000 hours to environmental restoration
Connected 35,000+ students with hands-on environmental education programs at Masonville Cove
Transformed public perception from opposition to enthusiastic support
Economic Impact
Supported channel deepening to 50 feet, positioning Baltimore among only four East Coast ports capable of handling the world's largest cargo vessels
Helped generate $2 million in incremental revenue—a 100% increase over initial seed funding
Created sustainable funding streams that continue to grow annually
Policy Innovation
Built stakeholder coalitions that successfully advocated for new supportive policies
Created replicable models for sustainable port operations now being studied nationwide
Demonstrated how infrastructure development can simultaneously advance economic, environmental, and social goals
FAQ
What does it really mean to “redefine profit”?
What makes Council Fire different?
Who do you work with?
What does working with you actually look like?
How do you help organizations turn big goals into action?
How do you define and measure success?
More Works
©2024