Explore Independent Flood Mitigation Research
Mallard Lakes Community Sustainability Research Hub
Explore Independent Flood Mitigation Research
ML Sustainability Independent Research
Purpose
Flood Information Videos
What's In Here?
This site was created to provide owners with information about future flood risk and possible solutions that would keep Mallard Lakes healthy and thriving in the future. It contains a collection of historic/reference documents and information from interviews with subject matter experts with the intent to inform the community and other interested parties.
What's In Here?
Flood Information Videos
What's In Here?
.jpg/:/cr=t:29.48%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:37.5%25/rs=w:388,h:194,cg:true)
Although the events that occurred during Hurricane Sandy are behind us, the risks associated with water inundation, subsidence (sinking land) and storm surge are not. This research confirms ML does have options to remediate our issues as well as options to help fund them.
This site provides sourced information on ML's flood-related history, current issues, what could be done to fix them, and who can help us based on publicly available documents and subject matter expert interviews. It also includes reports, estimates, and other detailed information you should know.
Flood Information Videos
Flood Information Videos
Most Promising Funding Options
A Special Flood Meeting was discussed by the Board at the October 2025 Owners’ Meeting and is expected to take place in early 2026. This section brings together videos, Mallard Lakes tidal water facts, clarifications related to the Findings and Forward Planning briefing, and plain-language explainers on key topics that may be helpful to review ahead of that discussion.
The information shared here is drawn from publicly available sources and is intended to help owners prepare for the meeting by offering additional context and supporting thoughtful, well-balanced community conversations.
Overtime tha information will remain available as part of the sites broader research achive
Most Promising Funding Options
Most Promising Funding Options
Most Promising Funding Options
There are government programs that can help Mallard Lakes and we are eligible for them. Find out more about what they are by clicking below.
Photo Gallery
Most Promising Funding Options
How Can I Subscribe?
Check out our photo gallery to glimpse some of our community's flood-related documents and current flood-related photos.
How Can I Subscribe?
Most Promising Funding Options
How Can I Subscribe?
.jpg/:/cr=t:19.38%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:66.67%25/rs=w:388,h:194,cg:true)
Please contact us and share your thoughts and/or subscribe to our network. Once you join, you will be kept current on the latest research and can contribute your thoughts and ideas. You can also email us at mlsustainability2025@gmail.com. Your feedback is invaluable.
This website is not affiliated with the Mallard Lakes Condominium Association Inc. And, as such, they are not responsible for its contents.
Preparing for the Special Flood Meeting
2025 Annual Meeting Research Clarifications
2025 Annual Meeting Research Clarifications
2025 Annual Meeting Research Clarifications
This section provides clarification regarding statements made during the October 2025 Mallard Lakes Homeowners Meeting. The charts requiring clarification are presented alongside independent analysis (not affiliated with the Mallard Lakes Condominium Association). For each chart, the analysis either (a) provides source-based clarificatio
This section provides clarification regarding statements made during the October 2025 Mallard Lakes Homeowners Meeting. The charts requiring clarification are presented alongside independent analysis (not affiliated with the Mallard Lakes Condominium Association). For each chart, the analysis either (a) provides source-based clarification or (b) identifies what additional information or analysis would be required to validate the statements presented.
Videos
2025 Annual Meeting Research Clarifications
2025 Annual Meeting Research Clarifications
This section includes the following videos to help you prepare for the upcoming Special Flood Meeting. Videos Include: What Mallard Lakes Homeowners should know (short and long version); What is a Feasibility Study and Why It Is important; Permitting vs Feasibility Study; What Happens If There Is Another Sandy?; and Big Projects Do Not Have to Mean One-Time Big Assessments.
Flood Meeting Explainers
2025 Annual Meeting Research Clarifications
Flood Meeting Explainers
This section offers more detailed information that expands on the topics covered in the videos. Taking a few minutes to review these short “explainers” can help clarify different perspectives and address common questions that may come up.
Independent Analysis of the Board's Tidal Water Brief
Study Omission - Clarification
Government Programs Omission - Clarification
Damaged Building -Clarification
The USACE/DNREC Inland Bays Study was omitted from the brief. This could produce funded, engineered alternatives for ML.
What is Needed: DNREC and USACE have both indicated that Mallard Lakes is within the scope and that cost share for the non-federal partner is only 10% (the federal government would cover the remaining amount for engineering study and construction)
Damaged Building -Clarification
Government Programs Omission - Clarification
Damaged Building -Clarification
CAP 205 does not require existing flood damage be present.
No source, memo, or policy is cited.
Clarification: Mallard Lakes has already been determined eligible for this program; in order to proceed to obtain funding, a non-federal state or local sponsor needs to be identified
Government Programs Omission - Clarification
Government Programs Omission - Clarification
Government Programs Omission - Clarification
The presentation implies no programs are available unless flooding has already occurred.
Clarification: Many federal and state programs are preventative and do not require prior damage. Sussex County previously sponsored an HMGP grant, and Mallard Lakes was not prioritized only because Sandy caused widespread Mid-Atlantic losses.
Examp
The presentation implies no programs are available unless flooding has already occurred.
Clarification: Many federal and state programs are preventative and do not require prior damage. Sussex County previously sponsored an HMGP grant, and Mallard Lakes was not prioritized only because Sandy caused widespread Mid-Atlantic losses.
Examples of Available Programs:
USACE CAP 205 (flood damage reduction – ML already qualifies), CAP 103 (shoreline erosion), CAP 1135 (ecosystem restoration), FEMA BRIC, FEMA FMA, and the USACE/DNREC Inland Bays Study.
Government Funding - Clarification
Government Funding - Clarification
Government Programs Omission - Clarification
This is framed as a definitive, permanent policy statement.
Clarification: Sussex County expressed support for the USACE Inland Bays study; DNREC/DEMA noted funding is limited now but possible in the future; and Representative Gray’s office stated the State “has in the past and will continue to work with your HOA to find a best path forward” for Mallard Lakes.
Water Level Rise - Clarification
Government Funding - Clarification
Water Level Rise - Clarification
The presentation uses a confident numerical estimate, but these numbers are speculative unless backed by hydrological modeling.
What is Needed: Tide gauge data; hydrologic & hydralic (H&H) study; DNREC/USACE technical confirmation
Note: This summary is homeowner-developed research intended to clarify community discussions.
Barrier Effect- Clarification
Government Funding - Clarification
Water Level Rise - Clarification
There is no engineering evaluation to support this statement that a barrier would have no permanent effect.
What is Needed: The St. Michael's project focused on system-wide flood gates and did not evaluate bulkheads; therefore, it does not provide a basis for ruling out bulkhead solutions at Mallard Lakes.
DNREC Drainage - Clarification
Cost to Elevate Buildings - Clarification
Cost to Elevate Buildings - Clarification
DNREC uses case-by-case evaluation.
No policy or program prohibits this.
The quote is not documented
Clarification: DNREC has indicated that if the tidal gate was permitted, the RC&D funds could partially pay for it; The RC&D funds could also pay -- in part or in full -- for the cost of a feasibility study.
Cost to Elevate Buildings - Clarification
Cost to Elevate Buildings - Clarification
Cost to Elevate Buildings - Clarification
Not based on contractor bids, engineering analysis, or FEMA/USACE modeling, and assumes all buildings require elevation.
What Is Needed: A feasibility study, contractor estimates, review of the USACE Federal Interest Determination, and an analysis of minimum mitigation per structure.
Without this information, the assumptions lack a quan
Not based on contractor bids, engineering analysis, or FEMA/USACE modeling, and assumes all buildings require elevation.
What Is Needed: A feasibility study, contractor estimates, review of the USACE Federal Interest Determination, and an analysis of minimum mitigation per structure.
Without this information, the assumptions lack a quantifiable foundation and likely overstate the scope and cost of mitigation.
No Feasible Solution -Clarification
Cost to Elevate Buildings - Clarification
No Feasible Solution -Clarification
Feasible (though expensive) measures do exist, but no engineering study was done.
Options such as elevation, flood gates, vegetation, and drainage redesign are all potential mitigation measures.
What Is Needed: A professional feasibility study (H&H modeling and alternatives analysis) to evaluate these options, determine what is possible, and support applications for funding.
FEMA Grant - Clarification
No Further Assessments -Clarification
No Feasible Solution -Clarification
Feasible (though expensive) measures exist; No community assessment or engineering study has been done.
Clarification: Sussex did sponsor an HMGP grant; ML was not prioritized due to statewide Sandy damage.
What could help: Records from Sussex emergency management,
FEMA scoring documentation.
No Further Assessments -Clarification
No Further Assessments -Clarification
No Further Assessments -Clarification
Presentation relies on informal conversations and estimates instead of environmental engineering analysis. No feasibility studies have been performed.
.
What Is Needed: Environmental Assessment and Feasibility Study. State, federal, and USACE permitting and government funding programs require professional analyses — the HOA cannot determine feasibility without them
Flood Gate Option - Clarification
No Further Assessments -Clarification
No Further Assessments -Clarification
Based only on preliminary permit discussions, potential Route 54 impacts, and the St. Michael’s case study—not on engineering design or cost analysis.
Assumes no government funding and a one-time $3.5K special assessment per unit.
What Is Needed: A feasibility study, cost-benefit analysis, funding evaluation, surge modeling, maintenance
Based only on preliminary permit discussions, potential Route 54 impacts, and the St. Michael’s case study—not on engineering design or cost analysis.
Assumes no government funding and a one-time $3.5K special assessment per unit.
What Is Needed: A feasibility study, cost-benefit analysis, funding evaluation, surge modeling, maintenance planning, and a statement of available grants.
No community vote should occur without a full assessment.
Explainer: Feasibility Study Or Flood Gate
What Is a Feasibility Study?
How is that Different than a Flood Gate Permit?
A flood-mitigation feasibility study looks at why flooding happens in a community and compares different solutions to find the safest, most effective, and most affordable path forward.
A feasibility study helps us:
- Understand all of our flooding problems — storm surge, tidal inundation, erosion, low ground, and multiple water-entry points.
A flood-mitigation feasibility study looks at why flooding happens in a community and compares different solutions to find the safest, most effective, and most affordable path forward.
A feasibility study helps us:
- Understand all of our flooding problems — storm surge, tidal inundation, erosion, low ground, and multiple water-entry points.
- Use objective modeling to see how water behaves in and around Mallard Lakes.
- Compare several possible solutions (not just one) and understand the costs, benefits, and trade-offs of each.
A feasibility study tells us what will work, what it will cost, and what is worth pursuing before we commit to any project.
How is that Different than a Flood Gate Permit?
How is that Different than a Flood Gate Permit?
The floodgate permitting process comes after a community has already chosen a floodgate design and wants to build it.
Permitting ensures:
- The proposed gate is safe, environmentally responsible, and technically sound.
- The design does not worsen flooding for neighbors or nearby properties.
- All agencies (DNREC, USACE, NOAA, USFWS) approve
The floodgate permitting process comes after a community has already chosen a floodgate design and wants to build it.
Permitting ensures:
- The proposed gate is safe, environmentally responsible, and technically sound.
- The design does not worsen flooding for neighbors or nearby properties.
- All agencies (DNREC, USACE, NOAA, USFWS) approve the engineering and environmental impacts.
Permitting is not the step where we decide whether a floodgate is a good solution — it is the step we take after analysis has shown it is the right choice.
How Are The Options Different?
Feasibility Study = Choose the Right Solution
A feasibility study helps the community understand why we flood, models different options, compares their costs and benefits, and identifies which solutions are realistic, effective, and worth pursuing. It’s the step that tells us what makes sense before we commit to anything.
Flood Gate Permit
Feasibility Study = Choose the Right Solution
A feasibility study helps the community understand why we flood, models different options, compares their costs and benefits, and identifies which solutions are realistic, effective, and worth pursuing. It’s the step that tells us what makes sense before we commit to anything.
Flood Gate Permit = Approve the Chosen Solution
The permitting process happens only after a specific design is selected. It reviews the technical details, environmental impacts, and legal requirements to determine whether that particular project can be safely built. Permitting doesn’t compare options — it simply approves or denies the one we already chose.
Which is Better?
Mallard Lakes faces complex flooding challenges — storm surge, tidal inundation, multiple water-entry points, low ground, erosion, and subsidence — and no single tool can address all of these issues. While a tidal gate may help reduce nuisance inundation, it does not address storm surge, and its cost and benefits cannot be fairly evaluat
Mallard Lakes faces complex flooding challenges — storm surge, tidal inundation, multiple water-entry points, low ground, erosion, and subsidence — and no single tool can address all of these issues. While a tidal gate may help reduce nuisance inundation, it does not address storm surge, and its cost and benefits cannot be fairly evaluated without first understanding the full range of risks and solutions.
A feasibility study is the essential next step because it provides objective modeling, compares multiple alternatives, identifies which options are technically and financially viable, and determines whether a tidal gate is part of an effective long-term plan. Jumping directly to the floodgate, before studying the problem or alternatives, risks overlooking better solutions, overestimating costs, and making decisions without the data the community needs.
Note: This summary is homeowner-developed research intended to clarify community discussions.
Government Flood Mitigation Programs Available to Us
USACE Flood Mitigation Programs
USACE Flood Mitigation Programs
USACE Flood Mitigation Programs
USACE’s Continuing Authority Program 205, authorized under the 1948 Flood Control Act, is the most promising federal program for ML. It allows USACE to study, design, and construct small flood control projects in partnership with non-federal government agencies (e.g., cities, counties, special authorities, or units of state government). Projects under CAP 205 follow a complete process: feasibility study, design, and construction. The cost share for the non-federal partner is 50% for the study phase and 35% for the construction phase. Federal, state, and local governments together would cover the entire cost, and USACE would manage the funds, with the non-federal partner contributing its share as the project progresses.
In 2016, USACE completed a Federal Interest Determination (FID) under CAP 205—Flood Risk Management Study, Delaware Bayshores, DE—which concluded that ML was eligible for CAP 205 funding and remains eligible for this program. (See the Federal Interest Determination in the Research Section below).
Additionally, the Delaware Inland Bay Study, jointly being conducted by USACE and DNREC, is evaluating coastal water rise and storm mitigation strategies for all Sussex County inland bay communities, including ML, The study is in the early stages and is anticipated to be completed by 2030. In
Non-board member owners approached Sussex County to determine if they would consider being the ML non-federal sponsor for these programs. They indicated that they preferred to understand the results of the Inland Bay study prior to making a final decision, as it is more comprehensive with a lower cost share requirement. Additionally, these owners addressed the Sussex County Council in mid-July to request Sussex include funding in their budgets to support this program in the future.
In December 2025, USACE again confirmed that Mallard Lakes is still eligible for CAP 205 funding and clarified the funding process once a non-Federal sponsor is determined (in the Research section of this website).
DNREC RC&D Program
USACE Flood Mitigation Programs
USACE Flood Mitigation Programs
DNREC's Resource, Conservation and Development (RC&D) Fund supports projects that improve watershed health, drainage capacity, and environmental resilience across Delaware. Mallard Lakes was added to the RC&D priority list in 2015 with an allocation of about $200K.The Board was provided this information on April 11, 2025. During an April 24, 2025 site visit, DNREC indicated that current RC&D funds were still available and could be used to fully fund or supplement the USACE Programs.
Following the release of the Mallard Lakes Community Association's Tidal Water Report in July 2025, we confirmed with DNREC that RC&D funding could potentially cover some or all of a variable flow floodgate project if permits were obtained. Later that month, we met with Representative Ron Gray, who indicated that he was interested in working with the Board to navigate the permitting process and identify funding. We made it clear to each organization we met with (USACE, Sussex County, DNREC, and Rep Gray) that we were concerned citizens advocating for our property and were not representing the Mallard Lakes Community Association Board.
On August 11, 2025, we connected the Mallard Lakes Community Association Board with both Representative Gray and the DNREC Drainage team so these organizations can assist the Board as they move forward towards a barrier solution.
In October 2025, DNREC Drainage confirmed, "RC&D funds could be utilized to help supplement drainage related projects in the community, depending on the projects."
Additionally in October 2025, Representative Gray's office indicated, " Please be assured that the State of Delaware has in the past and will continue to work with your HOA to find a best path forward to address flooding and drainage concerns for all the homes in Mallard Lakes."
See the Research Section “Who can help” below to find out more.
This website is not affiliated with the Mallard Lakes Community Association Inc. And, as such, they are not responsible for its contents.
Contact Us
Please let us know if you have any questions . Let's keep this beautiful development around forever!
ML Sustainability
mlsustainability2025@gmail.com
