{"id":4250,"date":"2025-03-07T10:40:49","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T15:40:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/?p=4250"},"modified":"2025-03-07T10:40:49","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T15:40:49","slug":"five-maryland-watersheds-selected-for-whole-watershed-act-grant-funding-to-support-environmental-restoration-and-economic-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/2025\/03\/07\/five-maryland-watersheds-selected-for-whole-watershed-act-grant-funding-to-support-environmental-restoration-and-economic-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Maryland Watersheds Selected for Whole Watershed Act Grant Funding To Support Environmental Restoration and Economic Development"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Spread across the state, watershed-scale programs will start next phase of restoration in Maryland, benefitting habitats and local communities<\/em><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/Antietam-Creek.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"357\" src=\"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/Antietam-Creek.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4257\" style=\"width:491px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/Antietam-Creek.jpg 500w, https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/Antietam-Creek-300x214.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Antietam Creek crossed by Burnside Bridge in Sharpsburg, Washington County. Photo by C. Witt, submitted to the 2020 Maryland Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Maryland has selected the five watersheds in the state that will receive initial state grant funding as part of the Whole Watershed Act. These watershed-scale restoration efforts will contribute to both short-term and lasting economic benefits in the state of Maryland.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen we preserve and protect Maryland\u2019s natural treasures, we grow and strengthen Maryland\u2019s economy. Prioritizing these five watershed programs will ensure Maryland agriculture, Maryland tourism, and Maryland businesses remain strong,\u201d\u00a0<b>said Governor Wes Moore.<\/b>\u00a0\u201cOur administration\u2019s environmental protection work isn\u2019t just responsible, it\u2019s strategic \u2013 and it\u2019s going to advance our economic growth agenda for the entire state.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cleaner waterways bolster tourism in Maryland,\u00a0which generates about $3.2 billion a year in economic activity. Improved water quality and habitat also benefits Maryland\u2019s seafood industry, which contributes about $600 million to the state\u2019s economy each year. In the selected watersheds, restoration work will contribute to local economic development by making areas more attractive for businesses and creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation.<\/p>\n<p>The state\u2019s interagency management team selected Antietam Creek in Washington County, Baltimore Harbor, Newport Bay near Ocean City, the Severn River in Anne Arundel County, and the Upper Choptank River on the Eastern Shore.<span id=\"more-44096\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mgaleg.maryland.gov\/mgawebsite\/Legislation\/Details\/HB1165?ys=2024rs\">Maryland\u2019s Whole Watershed Act<\/a>, passed by the Maryland General Assembly in 2024, establishes a collaborative and science-based approach to watershed restoration. The act created a five-year program to target five Maryland watersheds for water quality improvements that best represent the state\u2019s diverse land uses, geographies, and environmental challenges. A watershed is a land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt to creeks, streams, and rivers, and eventually to outflow points such as the Chesapeake Bay or Atlantic Ocean.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are thrilled to announce these five watersheds selected for Whole Watershed Act funding,\u201d Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz said. \u201cThese five watersheds, which span the state of Maryland, will usher in the next phase of Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays restoration. By working closely with local partners and focusing on specific areas, we believe we can more quickly attain statewide clean water goals. This new program will help ensure more residents feel safe swimming in local rivers, boost habitat for fish populations, and improve prospects for businesses that depend on the Chesapeake Bay and the state\u2019s network of rivers and streams.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The selected watershed teams include partners from community organizations, local governments, private firms, and other groups. The following program sponsors led the proposal process for each team that was selected:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Catoctin Land Trust for Antietam Creek;\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>South Baltimore Gateway Partnership for the Baltimore Harbor;\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Maryland Coastal Bays Program for Newport Bay;\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County for the Severn River;\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>and ShoreRivers for the Upper Choptank River.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Whole Watershed Act<a href=\"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2025\/01\/08\/secretarys-message-charting-a-new-course-for-chesapeake-bay-restoration-in-maryland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0aligns with the new strategy for Bay restoration<\/a>\u00a0in Maryland that focuses on improving shallow waterways such as creeks, streams, and rivers. These are areas where clean water goals for safe, swimmable, and fishable streams and rivers can be met through focused restoration. Cleaner air and water will attract more businesses to restored areas and will provide families with more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.<\/p>\n<p>Although specific projects are not finalized for funding, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dnr.maryland.gov\/Pages\/whole-watershed-fund.aspx#proposalabstracts\">watershed applications<\/a>\u00a0lay out varied plans for restoring waterways, uplifting communities, and enhancing habitat areas. For example, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sbgpartnership.org\/\">South Baltimore Gateway Partnership<\/a>, in its Baltimore Harbor application, outlined proposals for constructing wetlands to reduce flood risk and filter stormwater in South Baltimore; restoring shorelines to create new fish habitats on the Patapsco River; increasing waterfront access and spurring economic growth in neighborhoods like Cherry Hill and Gwynn Falls; planting trees and installing beautification projects; and supporting efforts to remove invasive fish. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bayjournal.com\/news\/climate_change\/wetlands-to-return-to-baltimore-s-forgotten-waterfront\/article_f23ad7ee-f47b-11ef-8b2b-47a6c85a671d.html\">ongoing and proposed environmental work<\/a>\u00a0in South Baltimore is expected to attract new economic development to the area and provide local residents with access to the waterfront for the first time in generations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In October, a new $400 million mixed-use residential, retail, and office development\u00a0\u2014\u00a0known as One Westport\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/2024\/10\/07\/development-starts-on-westport-community-after-land-dispute-settled\/\">broke ground on a long-vacant 43-acre site<\/a>\u00a0along the Patapsco River waterfront where the environmental restoration work is taking place. The formerly industrial waterfront area sat vacant and inaccessible for years before community, environmental, and business groups partnered together to create a new vision for the future. By selecting this area for Whole Watershed funding, the state is adding more investment to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bayjournal.com\/news\/climate_change\/wetlands-to-return-to-baltimore-s-forgotten-waterfront\/article_f23ad7ee-f47b-11ef-8b2b-47a6c85a671d.html\">the community\u2019s plan to transform<\/a>\u00a0this often-overlooked part of the city into Baltimore\u2019s next great waterfront.<\/p>\n<p>Watershed-scale efforts in other selected areas include proposed trails to connect communities, projects to reduce stormwater flooding affecting homes, tree plantings to improve climate resilience, and new partnerships with agricultural producers to improve conservation efforts on farms.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/Choptank-projects-WWA-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"665\" height=\"915\" src=\"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/Choptank-projects-WWA-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/Choptank-projects-WWA-1.jpg 665w, https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/Choptank-projects-WWA-1-218x300.jpg 218w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 665px) 100vw, 665px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><em>Image: Proposed projects on the Upper Choptank River encompasses work on habitat restoration, wastewater improvements, stormwater improvements, and fish passage. The Upper Choptank River watershed is located in predominantly agricultural areas and includes underserved communities and part of Delaware. Specific projects in each watershed have not yet been finalized for funding. Each selected application put forward projects located at various points of the watershed. Credit: ShoreRivers<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Whole Watershed Restoration Partnership\u2019s State Management Team selected the watersheds. The management team includes experts from the Maryland departments of Agriculture, Emergency Management, Environment, Natural Resources, and Planning, along with the Critical Area Commission.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe selected recipients represent a comprehensive approach to watershed restoration,\u201d said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks. \u201cThis innovative approach to supporting the Bay and its tributaries adds another tool in the already robust toolbox to improve overall water quality and health. The agricultural sector is excited to be a partner in these projects, as we work to keep farms economically viable while continuing to take strong strides towards reaching our state\u2019s environmental goals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Each applicant\u2019s program will receive five years of technical and financial assistance to design and implement conservation and pollution reduction projects. During fiscal year 2026, the five programs will each receive at least $2 million in initial funding that the program sponsors can then leverage to secure matching funds outside of the Whole Watershed program. In the coming months, the management team will be working with each watershed program to identify a prioritized list of projects. The management team will commit additional funding over the five-year time period to support the programs.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u201cThese critical watersheds are so important to local communities, our ecosystem and our economy,\u201d said Secretary of Environment Serena McIlwain. \u201cHealthy watersheds naturally filter pollution and support plants and fish. They are also beautiful places for us to enjoy and learn about all of the great habitat Maryland has to offer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The management team issued a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dnr.maryland.gov\/ccs\/Documents\/RFP-FINAL.pdf\">request for proposals in October 2024<\/a>\u00a0and then evaluated the submitted applications based on their plans\u2019 benefits for water quality, increased public access, wildlife habitat, environmental justice, and climate resiliency. The team also weighed the cost-effectiveness of the proposed programs, applicants\u2019 experience, and their ability to match state investment. This program represents a shift from previous restoration efforts, which generally funded individual projects throughout the state based on modeled pollution reductions without a targeted geographic focus.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cProtecting and restoring rivers and streams are essential elements of fostering the ecological health of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coastal Bays,\u201d said Maryland Department of Planning Secretary Rebecca L. Flora, AICP.\u00a0 \u201cThe Maryland Department of Planning is committed to sustainable growth that balances Maryland\u2019s economic growth needs with our environmental stewardship responsibilities. It is through these innovative partnerships with other state agencies that we can collectively improve water quality, address environmental justice, and advance climate resiliency throughout Maryland.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To meet requirements of the law, the selected watersheds include one predominantly urban area (Baltimore Harbor); one in a predominantly suburban area (Severn River); at least two that reduce runoff in a predominantly agricultural area (Antietam Creek, Newport Bay, and Upper Choptank River); and at least one with a collaborative effort with an adjoining state (Antietam Creek\u2019s watershed includes Pennsylvania and the Upper Choptank River\u2019s watershed is partially in Delaware).<\/p>\n<p>With Antietam Creek, the Baltimore Harbor, and the Upper Choptank River, the management team selected three watersheds located within and providing benefit to overburdened or underserved communities.<\/p>\n<p>During the next five years, the State Management Team will oversee the watershed programs to help develop implementation and finance plans and find efficiencies in project permitting and funding. The team will also help measure project results and support monitoring at project sites.<\/p>\n<p>The selection of watersheds starts the process for the management team to identify what it will fund and help develop. The Whole Watershed Fund will not fund every aspect of each application.<\/p>\n<p>The law utilizes existing state funds to create a new\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dnr.maryland.gov\/Pages\/whole-watershed-fund.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Whole Watershed Fund<\/a>\u00a0for the program. The Whole Watershed Fund pools resources from multiple state sources, including the Maryland Cost Share Program (MACS), Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF), the Bay Restoration Fund, the Clean Water Commerce Act, the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, and the Waterway Improvement Fund.<\/p>\n<p>Proposed agricultural best management practices within each watershed program that are ready to implement will be prioritized within the Maryland Department of Agriculture for cost sharing and receive additional funding based on specific practice eligibility.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Whole Watershed Act provides implementation grants for up to 50% of the program cost, and each watershed program has been asked to secure additional funding from other state, federal, local, and private sources.<\/p>\n<p>As required by the Whole Watershed Act, program sponsors will hold four public meetings a year and provide an opportunity for public comment on the preliminary design of each major or large-scale action proposed for the Whole Watershed program.<\/p>\n<p>The State Management Team will hold six meetings a year with each watershed sponsor and participating local governments to review and facilitate progress within each watershed.<\/p>\n<p>The Department of Natural Resources and other state agencies will continue to support other restoration efforts in the watersheds not targeted for this cycle of Whole Watershed Act funding.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spread across the state, watershed-scale programs will start next phase of restoration in Maryland, benefitting habitats and local communities Antietam Creek crossed by Burnside Bridge in Sharpsburg, Washington County. Photo by C. Witt, submitted to the 2020 Maryland Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest. Maryland has selected the five watersheds in the state that will<a href=\"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/2025\/03\/07\/five-maryland-watersheds-selected-for-whole-watershed-act-grant-funding-to-support-environmental-restoration-and-economic-development\/\">&nbsp;&nbsp;Read the Rest&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,4,14,1],"tags":[85,28,132],"class_list":["post-4250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chesapeake-bay","category-clean-water-2","category-press-release","category-uncategorized","tag-chesapeake-bay","tag-clean-water","tag-secretary-serena-mcilwain"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4250"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4261,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4250\/revisions\/4261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}