Without clean water, the value of Maryland’s coasts would be vastly diminished. Good water quality is essential for life and necessary for fishing, shellfishing, boating, swimming, and most of the other activities that draw people to Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic coast. Pollution from sources of nitrogen and phosphorous as well as sediment are currently the biggest pollution problems in our coastal waters and has disrupted the balance of our coastal and terrestrial ecosystems. Every local government, every business and every citizen has a significant role to play in order to meet this challenge and the Chesapeake and Coastal Program is helping by providing technical and financial resources.
The associated costs and resource needs will prove to be a significant barrier to meeting the challenge of restoring our Bay and coastal waters. Overcoming this barrier will require the state to work with local and federal partners to administer funding through new and innovative approaches that leverage the funds to the greatest extent possible, target the funds to the most cost effective locations and practices, engage the community at large, and hold everyone accountable.
Chesapeake & Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund
See how Maryland is accelerating Bay restoration by focusing limited financial resources on the most effective non-point source pollution control projects.
Innovative Technology Fund
Learn how this State partnership funds Research & Development projects focused on developing technologies that reduce nutrient and sediment pollution into the Chesapeake Bay.
Watershed Assistance Collaborative
Learn more about the technical and financial assistance provided to local communities and governments for advancing watershed protection and restoration activities in Maryland.
Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant
CBIG provides resources for state programs that reduce nonpoint source nutrient and sediment pollution improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
Recent News
Governor O'Malley's Stream Restoration Challenge
Governor O'Malley's Stream Restoration Challenge is once again accepting applications from local governments, school systems, and non-governmental organizations looking to carry out projects to improve Chesapeake Bay water quality and create service learning and environmental literacy activities for students. Through this program, the State and its partners will award the top proposals grants totaling up to $6 million to establish 1,000 acres of forested stream buffers by 2015.
The Request for Proposal is available here. The submission deadline is May 30, 2013. Funding for these grants is made available through the Chesapeake & Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund.
For more information or to discuss project ideas, please contact Gabe Cohee via email at gcohee@dnr.state.md.us or directly at 410.260.8753. Additional resources and information can be found on the program website.
Contact Information
Chesapeake & Coastal Service
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Tawes State Office Building E-2
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Phone 410-260-8732
Fax 410-260-8739