Small Watershed Grants Will Help Improve Water Quality Throughout Maryland
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) today announced that the 5th Congressional District received 7 Small Watershed Grants designed to improve water quality and restore habitats within the Chesapeake Bay basin.
"The Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program enables communities, in partnership with the federal government, to improve the environmental health of their local watersheds, as well as that of the Chesapeake Bay," Hoyer said. "These local projects play a vital role in our ongoing efforts to preserve and restore this national treasure."
The following is a list of this year's grant awards impacting Maryland's 5th Congressional District.
1) Invasive Plant Control in the Anacostia Watershed
Anacostia Watershed Society
Washington, DC, and Maryland
Small Watershed Grant: $50,000
Partner Contributions: $120,900
The Anacostia Watershed Society will restore natural areas in the Anacostia River watershed through invasive plant control and the re-vegetation of native plants. This project will reduce non-native plants by 25% in 7 parks in the watershed. A pilot re-vegetation project will be conducted to restore a 70-meter band of riprap with native plants with the participation of 1,500 volunteers and 26 community-based organizations. Project partners include the Chesapeake Natives and the National Park Service. Funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
2) Forest Stewardship Partnership
Center for Chesapeake Communities
Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties, Maryland
Small Watershed Grant: $35,000
Partner Contributions: $57,105
The Center for Chesapeake Communities will provide a landscape level perspective to coordinate management and restoration activities among 4 Federal landowners in the Baltimore-Washington corridor. Through these efforts, this project seeks to improve the ecological services of natural landscapes and reduce the environmental impacts of the land and facility management activities. Project partners include Fort Meade, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, NASA, and Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge. Funding provided by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and USDA Forest Service.
3) Almshouse Creek Living Shoreline
London Towne Property Owners Association
Edgewater, Maryland
Small Watershed Grant: $30,000
Partner Contributions: $38,880
The London Towne Property Owners Association will restore approximately 300 linear feet of severely eroded shoreline on Almshouse Creek. This demonstration project will construct stone sills and sand containment structures and engage volunteers to plant wetland grasses and other native plants. Project partners include Anne Arundel County, the Boy Scouts of America and South River Federation. Funding provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
4) Bioretention and Bayscapes Design Templates
Low Impact Development Center, Inc.
Beltsville, Maryland
Small Watershed Grant: $35,000
Partner Contributions: $24,680
The Low Impact Development Center will produce a series of raingarden design templates that can be used by landscape architects, contractors, garden clubs, and private citizens throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. These templates will target homeowners and will provide everything one needs to know about constructing and maintaining a successful raingarden. In addition, this project will construct a demonstration garden and host 3 educational workshops on the care and maintenance of raingardens. Project partners include Brookside Gardens. Funding provided by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
5) Oyster Restoration in St. Mary's River
Sustainable Development Institute
St. Mary's City, Maryland
Small Watershed Grant: $35,000
Partner Contributions: $16,680
The Sustainable Development Institute will demonstrate the potential of farmed, selectively bred native oysters to improve local water quality and biodiversity and increase the harvest from its now very low level. This project will deploy 10 oyster floats into the St. Mary's River and engage community volunteers and students in managing and monitoring the contribution that farmed oysters have on the Bay. Project partners include St. Mary's River Watershed Association and St. Mary's College. Funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
6) Watershed Financing for Local Officials-II
University of Maryland Foundation, Inc.
College Park, Maryland
Small Watershed Grant: $35,000
Partner Contributions: $0
The University of Maryland Foundation, Inc. will continue to develop a training program for local officials and community leaders focusing on implementation and financing of watershed protection and restoration plans. Project will finalize a guidebook and transition it into the financing training program with supplemental materials. Funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
7) Shady Cove Shoreline Restoration-I
West/Rhode Riverkeeper, Inc.
Shady Side, Maryland
Small Watershed Grant: $18,900
Partner Contributions: $19,000
The West/Rhode Riverkeeper, Inc. will stabilize 500 linear feet of badly eroded shoreline and restore the tidal marsh and other sensitive habitat in the Shady Cove Natural Area. This project will include surveying, designing and permitting in the first of two phases to stabilize the shoreline. Project partners include Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Funding provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.