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Department Awards $10.5 Million to Enhance Boating Access and Navigation

18 Maryland Counties Receive Waterway Improvement Fund Grants

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is providing $10.5 million in Waterway Improvement Fund grants to improve public boating access and navigation throughout the state.

Passed by the Maryland General Assembly and signed by Governor Larry Hogan, this critical funding will go toward 49 projects in 18 counties from Allegany to Worcester.

“Through this grant program, we are improving the quality of life of our citizens and visitors through the development and enhancement of various water access sites throughout the state, while expanding opportunities for the public to appreciate all that the Chesapeake Bay, coastal bays and their tributaries have to offer,” Governor Larry Hogan said. “The boating industry supports thousands of jobs in Maryland and contributes billions to our economy.”

Funded projects include the dredging of local navigation channels, maintaining public boating access facilities, improving parking and upgrading existing infrastructure such as bulkheads, piers and ramps. Funding is also provided to local first responders to enhance water rescue operations.

“From cruising the Chesapeake Bay to maneuvering the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, boating is a way of life in Maryland,” Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said. “The Waterway Improvement Fund is a vital state resource that ensures that residents and visitors alike will continue to benefit from Maryland’s world-class recreational boating opportunities for years to come.”

The Waterway Improvement Fund was created in 1966 to support the development, enjoyment and use of Maryland’s waters for the benefit of the general boating public. It is primarily derived from a five-percent vessel excise tax on boat purchases and titling.

County Project Location and/or Recipient Project Description
Allegany Rocky Gap State Park, Flintstone Design and construct Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant walkway leading to boat ramp
Anne Arundel Broadwater Creek, Deale Main channel dredging to restore boating access
Anne Arundel Carrs Creek, Deale Main channel dredging to restore boating access
Anne Arundel Citywide Annapolis Public boating facilities improvements
Anne Arundel Parrish Creek, Shady Side Install single lane boat ramp with floating pier and paved turnaround
Baltimore Bird River and Railroad Creek, White Marsh Main channel dredging to restore boating access in Bird River and Railroad Creek
Baltimore Gunpowder Falls State Park – Dundee Creek Marina, Middle River Dredge material placement site restoration
Baltimore Middle River Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company Purchase of fire/rescue boat and trailer
Baltimore City Baltimore City Fire Department Purchase fire/rescue boat
Baltimore City Canton Waterfront Park Parking lot improvements (Phase 2) including increasing green space at boat ramp facility
Baltimore City Downtown Sailing Center Continued improvements for the establishment of one marina and expansion of another along Key Highway
Calvert Hallowing Point Boating Facility, Prince Frederick Develop master plan for expanded Hallowing Point facility
Calvert North Beach Volunteer Fire Department Purchase of a new fire/rescue boat
Caroline Choptank Marina, Preston Improvements to existing pier, pump-out dock and fuel relocation
Cecil Charlestown Volunteer Fire Company Purchase new fire/rescue boat
Cecil Chesapeake City Back Creek Basin Dredging Back Creek Basin and the town dock/slips.
Cecil Elk Neck State Park, North East Construction of breakwaters for the Rogues Harbor boating facility
Charles Smallwood State Park, Marbury Re-deck the boating ramp piers and the marina concession pier at Sweden Point Marina
Charles Smallwood State Park, Marbury Design of bulkhead replacement along the Sweden Point Marina waterfront
Dorchester Cambridge Municipal Marina Marina bathhouse renovations
Dorchester Elliott Island Marina, Vienna Construct stone jetty
Dorchester Tar Bay, Church Creek Dredging Tar Bay  – local cost share for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ channel
Dorchester Vienna Waterfront Park Extension of North and South Piers to provide additional slips
Harford City Yacht Basin, Havre de Grace Dredging fairways, marina basin and approach channel
Harford Flying Point Park, Edgewood Engineering, permitting and renovation of the west pier to include re-decking and raising the pier
Harford Otter Point Creek – Bush River, Edgewood Engineering for maintenance dredging Otter Point Creek – Bush River
Kent Chestertown Marina Replace bulkheads and piers at Chestertown Marina
Kent Turners Creek Public Landing, Kennedyville Boat ramp improvements including new timber bulkhead, new concrete ramp and parking lot resurfacing
Prince George’s Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad Purchase new fire/rescue boat motor
Prince George’s Prince George’s County, Fort Washington Purchase new high performance all-terrain airboat for water rescue
Queen Anne’s Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department, Chester Purchase of fire/rescue boat motors and equipment
Queen Anne’s Kent Narrows, Grasonville Maintenance dredge the north side Kent Narrows, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ channel
Queen Anne’s Matapeake Terminal Gas Dock, Stevensville Replacement of gas dock and fuel system
Somerset Brick Kiln Pier, Crisfield Removal of pilings at Brick Kiln pier and beach that impede navigation
Somerset Webster’s Cove Marina, Princess Anne Replacement of 190 feet of deteriorating bulkhead at Webster’s Cove Harbor
St. Mary’s Countywide Public boating facilities improvement
St. Mary’s Point Lookout State Park, Scotland Re-deck marina boardwalk and piers
St. Mary’s St. Clements Island, Coltons Point Re-deck the north and south light house piers
Statewide Federal Sport Fish Restoration Boating Projects Match State match for proposed federal sport fish restoration boating projects
Statewide General Repairs Complete dredging, navigation, and storm damage repair as needed in designated public shallow water navigation channels or publicly owned boating facilities
Statewide Living Shoreline Projects Design and construction of living shoreline projects by the department’s Shoreline Conservation Service
Statewide Replace Ice-breaker Replace M/V Tawes ice-breaking buoy tender
Talbot Back Creek Park, St. Michaels Construction of waterman’s pier, and small boat access, including electric and water connection for facility
Talbot Dogwood Harbor, Tilghman Maintenance dredging of Dogwood Harbor and the inlet to the harbor
Talbot Townwide – Oxford Maintenance and repairs to public boating facilities, including installation of floating dock
Wicomico Mardela Springs Boat Ramp Boat ramp improvements
Wicomico Riverside Boat Ramp, Salisbury Replace existing boat ramp
Worcester 64th Street Boat Ramp, Ocean City Engineering and construction to dredge channel at 64th Street boat ramp
Worcester Public Landing Marina, Snow Hill Resurface and overlay parking lot

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