Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources is handing out $11.2 million in grant money through the Whole Watershed Fund, aiming to speed up environmental restoration efforts in five important watersheds throughout the state. Now in its second year under the Whole Watershed Act, the five-year program is backing 30 projects in Antietam Creek, Baltimore Harbor, Newport Bay, the Severn River, and the Upper Choptank River — including three agricultural zones and two areas that cross state lines.
Each of the five watersheds will receive $2 million for project work along with an additional $250,000 set aside for monitoring efforts. The funded projects are designed to clean up waterways, restore natural habitats, and bring communities across Maryland into the process.
Maryland DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz described the program’s broader impact, saying: “The Whole Watershed Program extends beyond implementation, creating new partnerships, connecting with other funding sources, and facilitating program opportunities. This collaborative and science-based framework ensures that restoration work delivers tangible benefits to both the environment and the Marylanders who depend on it.”
The program represents a five-year financial and technical commitment toward meeting statewide clean water goals. In its first year, the program completed its initial project — a pair of bioretention cells in Annapolis that filter stormwater before it flows into the Severn River. The program also helped stabilize 1,600 feet of badly eroding streambank in the Antietam River watershed, reconnecting floodplains, creating new wildlife habitat, and opening up new opportunities for community use.
Building on that progress, the fiscal year 2027 round of awards supports 30 new projects chosen through a joint process involving watershed sponsors and the state management team. The initiatives cover a broad range of activities, from protecting land and creating wetlands to introducing new farming practices and improving public access to waterways. Key highlights for this funding cycle include:
— Protecting more than 250 acres along the main channel of Antietam Creek to safeguard critical waterways;
— Launching an environmental workforce development program in Baltimore aimed at creating local jobs;
— Installing residential stormwater controls and upgrading septic systems in Ridgely;
— Restoring 114 acres of marshland near Ocean City to boost coastal resilience; and
— Completing 1,150 linear feet of stream restoration in Eastport to manage significant drainage.
The program marks a shift in Maryland’s approach to environmental restoration — moving away from isolated, model-driven projects toward a place-based strategy that offers ongoing financial and technical support. More than 75 partners are involved statewide, including local governments, universities, and nonprofit groups. Project sponsors are contributing more than $11 million in matching funds, bringing the total investment to roughly $22 million.
Samantha Rose, Restoration Director of South Baltimore Gateway Partnership, spoke to the program’s community value: “We are incredibly grateful for Whole Watershed’s partnership in advancing the vision of Reimagine Middle Branch through the Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative. Their investment allows us to support innovative, community-led programs like the Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative’s Reel Rewards and Grow Home’s Restoration Academy, while continuing to build the next generation of restoration projects that strengthen shoreline resilience, improve water quality and habitat, expand public access, and create lasting economic opportunities for South Baltimore residents.”
As the program moves into year two, the state management team plans to keep working closely with project sponsors on monitoring strategies, financial planning, community outreach, and identifying additional sources of support.
Jessica McIntosh, the Newport Bay Partnership Coordinator with Maryland Coastal Bays Foundation, expressed enthusiasm for the holistic approach: “The community is excited for the investment Maryland is making to uplift the whole watershed, from improving stormwater management in the head waters, down to salt marsh restoration in the bay itself. We look forward to the powerful changes this holistic approach will create in Maryland’s Coastal Bays.”
