{"id":47949,"date":"2026-07-14T16:13:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T20:13:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/?p=47949"},"modified":"2026-07-15T11:22:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T15:22:04","slug":"maryland-awards-11-2-million-from-whole-watershed-program-to-advance-environmental-restoration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2026\/07\/14\/maryland-awards-11-2-million-from-whole-watershed-program-to-advance-environmental-restoration\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryland Awards $11.2 Million from Whole Watershed Program to Advance Environmental Restoration"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Baltimore Harbor is one of five selected watersheds in the Whole Watershed Program. DNR photo<\/p><\/div>\n

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is awarding $11.2 million in grants from the Whole Watershed Fund to accelerate restoration efforts in five key watersheds across the state. Established by the Whole Watershed Act, this second year of the five-year program supports 30 projects<\/a> in Antietam Creek, Baltimore Harbor, Newport Bay, the Severn River, and the Upper Choptank River, including three agricultural areas, and two cross-state collaborative areas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Each watershed will receive $2 million in project funding and $250,000 for watershed monitoring funding. Projects will help improve water quality, enhance habitat, and engage communities throughout Maryland.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Whole Watershed Program extends beyond implementation, creating new partnerships, connecting with other funding sources, and facilitating program opportunities,\u201d said Maryland DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz. \u201cThis collaborative and science-based framework ensures that restoration work delivers tangible benefits to both the environment and the Marylanders who depend on it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Whole Watershed Program represents a five-year commitment to providing the technical and financial resources necessary to achieve statewide clean water goals. During its <\/span>inaugural year<\/span><\/a> (FY26), the program successfully delivered its <\/span>first completed project<\/span><\/a>, two bioretention cells in Annapolis that filter stormwater runoff entering the Severn River. The program also leveraged funds to stabilize 1,600 feet of severe stream erosion in the Antietam River watershed. This project due to the Whole Watershed funding successfully reconnected floodplains, created new habitats for local wildlife, and improved opportunities for community engagement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Building on this momentum, the fiscal year 2027 awards support <\/span>30 new projects<\/span> selected through a collaborative process between watershed sponsors and the state management team. These initiatives span a wide range of restoration activities, from land conservation and wetland creation to innovative agricultural practices and enhanced public access showcasing the holistic approach of the program. FY27 project highlights include:<\/span><\/p>\n