EASTERN SHORE, Md. — Wicomico County is set to receive $5 million in federal funding for maintenance dredging of its federal navigation channel, as part of a broader $218 million investment in infrastructure projects across the mid-Atlantic. The funds are part of the Fiscal Year 2024 Work Plan for the U.S. Army Civil Works Program, authorized by Congress and administered through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The program targets high-impact projects expected to meet critical infrastructure benchmarks within the current fiscal year.
The $5 million investment in Wicomico County will support dredging along the Wicomico River, a vital commercial waterway and one of the top ports in Maryland by tonnage. The dredging work is intended to maintain navigability and ensure safe passage for vessels supporting regional agriculture, commerce, and maritime industries.
In addition to Wicomico County, the Eastern Shore is benefiting from other targeted allocations, including $71.9 million for completion of construction at James Island under the Mid-Chesapeake Bay Island Project, and $10 million to continue habitat restoration and dredge inflow operations at Poplar Island in Talbot County. Ocean City’s harbor and Sinepuxent Bay will also see $9.6 million directed toward channel maintenance. These infrastructure projects are designed to support local economies, sustain critical transportation routes, and reinforce public safety throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. For more information, updates are available through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Wicomico River