Maryland Waterway Improvement Fund Awards $13.5 Million for FY2023

Projects Funded Statewide for New and Improved Boating Access, Navigation, and Safety

Solley Cove Boat Ramp in Anne Arundel County, completed in 2021 with support of the Waterway Improvement Fund. Photo by Carla Fleming, Maryland Department of Natural Resources

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is providing $13.5 million in Waterway Improvement Fund grants to enhance and improve public boating access, facilities, and navigation throughout the state.

This funding is awarded to 45 applicants statewide, supporting efforts that include new public boating access, amenities, and facilities; dredging of navigable waterways; emergency vessels and equipment for local first responders; and other important infrastructure and initiatives.

“Maryland’s Waterway Improvement Fund has been an extremely valuable program for 56 years,” Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio said. “Without it, we would not be able to invest in these essential boating projects in partnership with our counties, waterfront communities, and waterway users.”

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. The fund is primarily derived from the one time 5% excise tax paid to the state when a boat is purchased and titled in the state, as well as a small portion of the state gas tax.

The Waterway Improvement Fund primarily is used toward the construction and maintenance of more than 400 public boating facilities and more than 250 public navigational channels across the state as well as acquisition of icebreaking and rescue vessels.

Applications are reviewed and projects selected based on local government and state needs and priorities, then evaluated to determine the benefit to the general boating public. 

DNR will accept Waterway Improvement Fund applications for the next fiscal year through the department’s online ​Grants Gateway.

Projects funded in Fiscal Year 2023:

Anne Arundel County
Podickory Creek, Annapolis
Dredging
$325,000

Mill Creek, Arnold
Dredging
$362,500

South County Dredge Material Beneficial Use Site, Deale
$250,000

Baltimore County
Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department
Primary rescue boat and motor replacement
$12,500

Bowleys Quarters Community Volunteer Fire Department, Middle River
Fire boat replacement project
$50,000

Gunpowder Falls State Park, Dundee Creek Marina
Dredged material placement rehabilitation
$200,00

Baltimore City
Baltimore City Fire Department
Fire rescue boat replacement, dive rescue team
$23,000

Caroline County
Choptank Marina, Preston
Fuel tank installation
$250,000
Marina parking lot restoration
$75,000

Martinak State Park
Dredged material placement rehabilitation engineering
$200,000

Cecil County
Town of Charlestown
Dredging project engineering
$100,000

Dorchester County
Crocheron Wharf, Bishops Head
Bulkhead and parking lot
$150,000

City of Cambridge, Franklin Street Boat Ramp
Jetty Repairs
$250,000

City of Cambridge Municipal Marina
Floating breakwater maintenance
$95,000

Harford County
Mariner Point Park, Joppa
Parking lot resurfacing
$200,000

Kent County
Betterton Fire Company
Purchase of fire/rescue boat
$50,000

Prince George’s County
Prince George’s County Fire/EMS, Largo
Water safety rescue and resource enhancements
$15,000

Queen Anne’s County
Centreville Landing
Boat ramp replacement
$250,000

Deep Landing Boat Ramp
Boating facility renovations
$250,000

Kent Narrows – Chester River, northern approach channel
Dredging
$1 million

Love Point State Park
Facility improvements project
$800,000

Matapeake Landing
Boat ramp replacement
$250,000

Matapeake Marine Terminal
Access channel dredging
$100,000

Town of Queenstown
Queenstown Creek channel dredging – Phase I
$100,000

Queen Anne’s County
Hydraulic boat trailer
$150,000

Somerset County
Somers Cove Marina, Crisfield
Bulkhead replacement and marina site improvements – Phase 3
$3 million

Webster Cove Marina, Mt. Vernon
Marina improvements
$150,000

St. Mary’s County
Point Lookout State Park
Boat ramps and pier replacement
$500,000

Ridge Volunteer Fire Department
Emergency response raft equipment
$50,000

St. George Creek
Maintenance dredge and beneficial use at Piney Point
$540,000

Talbot County
Oak Creek Landing, Newcomb
Redecking
$30,000

Windy Hill Landing, Trappe
Redecking
$10,000

Wye Landing, Wye Mills
Repaving
$65,000

Washington County
Potomac Valley Fire Company, Sharpsburg
Rescue boat
$17,550

Town of Williamsport
New boat ramp engineering
$70,000

Wicomico County
Cedar Hill Landing, Bivalve
Expansion of existing Wicomico County dredged material placement site
$750,000

Nanticoke Harbor
Dredging
$50,000

Worcester County
South Point Landing, Berlin
Boat ramp restoration. Assateague side
$250,000

Pocomoke River State Park, Milburn and Shad Landings
Boat ramp replacement and comfort station improvements
$1.2 million

Snow Hill Public Landing
Retaining wall/rip rap engineering
$50,000

Statewide
Statewide Emergency Maintenance Dredging
$679,213

State match for federal Boating Access (BA) and Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) grants
$250,000

Maryland Pumpout Grant Program
$145,237

Natural Resources Police Search and Rescue Vessel Purchase(s)
$125,000

General Maintenance and Repairs to State-Owned Boating Facilities
$60,000