Program Highlights
Watershed Assistance Grant Program
The Collaborative has awarded 15 grants totaling over $350,000, including leveraged funds, for watershed planning and design grants to the following communities:
- Sassafras River Association for project development
- West/Rhode River Riverkeeper for planning and project development
- Octararo River Association for planning and project development
- Choptank Riverkeeper for planning and project development
- Severn River Association for project design
- Spa Creek Conservancy for project design
- Caroline County: Choptank River project development
- Baltimore City Watershed 246 (Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association) for watershed planning
- Harford County: Wheel Creek (Bush River) stream restoration design
- Trout Unlimited: Jones Falls stream restoration design
- Severn Riverkeeper Program for the design in Cabin Branch of the Severn River.
- Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management for the development of the Small Watershed Action Plan for the Loch Raven Reservoir watershed
- West/Rhode Riverkeeper for design of a treatment wetland on the Rhode River
- Caroline County Department of Planning and Codes for the development of multiple 12-digit watershed plans in Caroline County, MD
- Herring Run Watershed Association for the development of seven rain garden designs
Regional Watershed Restoration Specialists
The Regional Watershed Restoration Specialists are working with numerous communities in Maryland’s coastal zone, including six Local Implementation Grant-Trust Fund recipients, on project coordination and development:
- Amanda Rockler, Central MD Specialist: Assisting projects in Baltimore City, Magothy River and Anne Arundel County efforts, Patuxent River, and Bush River in Harford County.
- Jennifer Dindinger, Eastern Shore Specialist: Assisting new watershed groups to get plans underway, Middle Chester River, Sassafras River, Choptank River initiatives.
- Jackie Takacs, Southern MD Specialist: Assisting with projects and communities in St. Mary’s, Charles, Calvert, and part of Prince Georges/Anne Arundel Counties.
- Carrie Decker, Coastal Bays and Lower Eastern Shore Specialist: Working with MCBP, MD EFC and Town of OC on stormwater-related projects.
Outreach, Project and Stakeholder Development
The Environmental Finance Center has been instrumental in assisting communities and grantees by providing direct facilitation, direction, coordination and final products for the following organizations and communities:
- Held three regional workshops where DNR staff and Specialists presented technical and funding assistance to communities in Maryland’s coastal zone
- Improving Watershed Planning Capacity: Middle Chester River Partnership
- Improving Local Government Capacity for Watershed Planning and Implementation Efforts: Sassafras Watershed Action Plan (SWAP) Financing Recommendations
- Facilitation to the Sassafras River Association for Core Stakeholder Meeting related to their Action Plan
- Coordination and facilitation of Middle Chester partner meetings related to the Trust Fund Local Implementation Grant
- Lead project manager, along with MD DNR staff and the town of Ocean City Maryland to determine if a stormwater utility is a feasible and sustainable option for its community.
Local communities interested in learning how the Collaborative can connect them to the financial and technical resources they need to undertake comprehensive watershed restoration projects in Maryland should e-mail Carrie Decker with the Chesapeake & Coastal Program or call 410-260-8723.