Maryland Unveils Criteria for Watershed Restoration Pilot Program

MARYLAND News (7/24/2024) – The Maryland Whole Watershed Restoration Partnership has announced the initial criteria for selecting watersheds eligible for a new pilot restoration program. This initiative, established under the Whole Watershed Act (SB 969/HB 1165), aims to foster innovative, science-driven approaches to restoring the state’s waterways.

The Whole Watershed Act sets the foundation for a five-year pilot program, which will use existing state funds to create a Whole Watershed Fund. This fund will support restoration efforts in five diverse Maryland watersheds, chosen to represent the state’s varied land uses, geographies, and environmental challenges.

According to Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Josh Kurtz, the initiative seeks to transform the state’s approach to ecological restoration and conservation. By working with diverse project partnerships across the selected watersheds, the program aims to enhance water quality, create new habitats, improve community health, and generate job opportunities. These local benefits will collectively advance Maryland’s broader restoration goals for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal bays.

The pilot projects are a response to recommendations from the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee’s Comprehensive Evaluation of System Response (CESR) report. The projects will address multiple benefits, including water quality improvement, increased public access, wildlife habitat enhancement, fisheries improvement, environmental justice, and climate resiliency. Oversight will be provided by a state management team comprising agency experts, who will streamline project permitting and funding and evaluate the outcomes.

Criteria and resources for evaluating watersheds can be found on the DNR website. The state management team will issue a request for proposals by October 1, 2024, to select up to five watersheds. The selection will include one predominantly urban area, one suburban area, two agricultural areas focused on runoff reduction, and one collaborative project with an adjoining state. At least two of the selected watersheds must benefit overburdened or underserved communities.

For more information and to review the watershed criteria, click here.