The shoreline inventory files have been generated to support the application of the Maryland Shoreline Stabilization Model (SSM), developed by the Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM), Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), to enhance and streamline regulatory decision making in Maryland. This shoreline inventory includes the features needed as inputs to run the SSM.

The data developed for the Shoreline Inventory is based on a three-tiered shoreline assessment approach. This assessment characterizes conditions by using observations made remotely at the desktop using high resolution imagery. Kent County was processed in 2022 referencing the most recent available Six Inch resolution aerial imagery service for the State of Maryland. The three-tiered shoreline assessment approach divides the shorezone into three regions: 1) the immediate riparian zone, evaluated for land use; 2) the bank, evaluated for height, and natural protection (i.e., marshes and beaches); and 3) the shoreline, describing the presence of shoreline structures for shore protection and recreational purposes.