Governor O'Malley Proposes $25 Million To Advance Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Restoration Efforts In FY 2012 Budget

Annapolis, Md. (January 24, 2011) — Governor Martin O’Malley has proposed $25 million in fiscal year 2012 funding for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, a 25 percent increase over 2011. The dedicated fund supports projects designed to reduce non-point source pollution that reaches the Chesapeake Bay.

“Even during these difficult fiscal times, Maryland has been able to strengthen our efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay,” said Governor O’Malley. “With 90 percent of these funds being directed for projects and infrastructure that will employ installers, designers, engineers and construction services, the Trust Fund will not only help us achieve our restoration commitments, but will create jobs and support local economies.”

Established in November 2007, the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund was created to provide a dedicated source of funding to accelerate Bay restoration by focusing resources on practices that are the most cost efficient and are targeted to the areas where pollution reductions will be the most effective.

“The Trust Fund supports critical efforts to significantly improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary John Griffin. “Pending legislative approval, the on-the-ground fixes identified for funding in FY 2012 represent nearly a third of the overall annual nitrogen reduction needed from non-point sources.”

The Trust Fund is made up of monies generated through motor fuel tax and rental car tax in Maryland. Now in its third year, the Fund has targeted a total of $38.4 million to date for projects that reduce non-point source pollution: $20 million in fiscal year 2011; $8.81 million in fiscal year 2010; and $9.6 million in fiscal year 2009. It is anticipated that when fully-funded, the Trust Fund will generate $50 million annually.

In addition to supporting Maryland’s commitment to cover crops and planting trees in targeted areas across the State, the Trust Fund will direct $6.2 million to local communities to assist in clean-up of local rivers and streams.

Prince George’s County will receive $2.88 million to construct a large-scale urban stream restoration in the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River.

“I want to thank Governor O’Malley for his environmental stewardship especially during these difficult economic times,” said Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. “This funding that will be used to restore the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River not only benefits the residents of Prince George’s County but also the District of Columbia, the region, and most importantly, future generations that count on us today in order to inherit a cleaner, greener, and better environment tomorrow.”

Other projects to be funded include:

• $1.2 million to Howard County and the Columbia Association for stormwater retrofits and forest buffer restoration in the Little Patuxent watershed
• $640,000 to Baltimore County and Herring Run Watershed Association for stormwater retrofits and forest buffer restoration in Back River.
• $500,000 to Harford County to construct four stormwater management projects in Wheel Creek.
• $463,000 to Anne Arundel County to construct and monitor an innovative sand seepage stream restoration in a subwatershed of the Magothy River.
• $290,000 to the Sassafras River Association to install wetlands and pilot poultry manure incorporation within the watershed.
• $250,000 to Centreville to manage stormwater at the local wastewater treatment plant in the Corsica River watershed.

Maryland’s agencies, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association worked together to maximize available Bay restoration dollars.

“The Chesapeake Bay Trust is excited to partner with the State of Maryland on awards made through the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund,” said Dr. Jana Davis, Associate Executive Director and Chief Scientist of the Chesapeake Bay Trust. “Our role in this partnership is to provide a connection between the citizens in communities and on-the-ground implementation projects that will improve their local waterways. These citizens will be educated about their watersheds, made aware about ways they can help, and in many cases, actually engaged in hands-on restoration projects.”

The complete SFY 2012 Workplan and supporting materials can be found at: http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/ccp/funding/trust_fund.asp.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly one-half million acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov.