Smith Island residents call for increased ferry service, more dredging in meeting with USDA

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – Smith Island is a unique place with a unique set of challenges. Transportation is just one of the issues, making getting on and off the island difficult.

Parsing Through Issues in Princess Anne

Friday, residents met with officials from USDA Rural Development in Princess Anne to generate fresh solutions. One of the main issues residents of the storied island are facing is what they call a lack of transportation options to the mainland.

“We’re looking for ways to supplement the existing [ferry service] that are there. Or, if they’re not interested, then a start-up,” said Eddie Somers, President of Smith Island United.

One Way On, One Way Off

Unless you own a boat and have a place to tie up, there is one way on and one way off the island: the ferry.

Services run Monday through Saturday, leaving Smith Island at 7:30 a.m. and arriving in Crisfield around 8:10 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., the ferry returns to Smith Island for the day. If you miss it, you are out of luck.

Residents say ferry fees depend on whether you’re a full-timer, a part-timer, or a visitor. During Friday’s meeting, resident Shannon Abbott said her family of part-time residents can pay hundreds of dollars at a time to make it to their island home.

“That makes it difficult for a lot of people. We’re not faulting the [ferry] businesses. It’s just that we need some help,” Somers said.

State Director for USDA Rural Development in Delaware and Maryland, Andrew Dinsmore, said ferry service can become a complicated issue for any island community.

“Islands always present a unique set of complicating factors. I think there are some things we can do with some partners. There are some things we can do with other partners… There are a lot of people who want to work together and just have to figure out what the others can do. Our job is to keep reminding them and keep talking about what we can do,” Dinsmore said.

Dredging Not Done Often Enough, Islanders Say

Another major concern of Smith Island residents is the cycle of erosion and sandbar silting.

Residents said dredging is not being done often enough on their island, adding the build-up of sediment in the water makes marine navigation difficult. Members of Smith Island United asked for more regular and clearer communication from the engineers involved and decision-makers.

The ideas are all valuable feedback in finding innovative ways to keep Smith Island thriving, Dinsmore said.

“Doing an event like this brings out people that we didn’t know existed, people that have ideas who we hadn’t heard from before… Things like this end up producing other ideas and solutions,” Dinsmore said.

An Island in Transition

One of the big things meeting attendees agreed on was that Smith Island is one in transition. Somers said newcomers are increasingly calling the island home, while connections to the mainland become more crucial than ever before.

“You’ll hear 180 to 200 [residents], but that swells to 500 when the part-time people are there. And, a lot of those people work in the evening and on weekends… They’re rebuilding [homes] and they’re spending their money in Crisfield on building materials, contractors from Crisfield, and other parts of the county are doing the work. So, it benefits everybody,” Somers said.

State Lawmakers Weigh In

Delegate Charles Otto (R-Md. District 38A) and a representative from State Senator Mary Beth Carozza were also in attendance at Friday’s meeting. Del. Otto said there are ways the state could step in to help.

“Some of the problems with phragmites [invasive reeds] and things, we have state agencies that have programs to help cost share control of phragmites and noxious weeds that I think should be utilized. They may not know that,” Del. Otto said.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources State Waterway Improvement Fund grants have also proven crucial in the past, Del. Otto said, in supporting the residents of Smith Island. He added that lawmakers will be hard at work during the 2025 Maryland General Assembly session to come up with solutions of their own.

“We have a lot to deal with especially when we’re coming into the legislative session coming out of money issues with education and other things, but this [meeting] identifies the current needs they have and perhaps some easier fixes that we can make happen sooner without new resources being developed,” Del. Otto said.

Looking Ahead

No concrete solutions were offered during Friday’s meeting. Dinsmore and other USDA officials in attendance pledged to keep Smith Island in mind as they work toward the answers.

“We have to get creative on how we meet their needs… We operate best when we are invited in, and one of the unique things about Smith Island is Smith Island United and the residents—how organized they are,” Dinsmore said.

To learn more about USDA Rural Development, click here.