$2M State Grant to Fund Newport Bay Restoration

Worcester County, MD - Newport Bay Partnership (NBP) is getting a big boost for local water quality work. The group is receiving $2 million from Maryland's Whole Watershed Fund to restore the Newport Bay watershed. The money will support projects that improve water quality, help flooding issues, and protect wildlife habitat.

NBP is one of five projects across Maryland chosen for this funding. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is spreading the support over five years. The goal is to take a full, community-focused approach to restoring watersheds statewide.

"Our priority is to ensure restoration efforts reflect the needs of the local community," said Project Coordinator Jessica McIntosh. "We are committed to creating meaningful opportunities for community members to participate in this work."

One major project is the restoration of Croppers Marsh. Crews will restore 114 acres of unhealthy salt marsh in Newport Bay. Work includes rebuilding natural channels, planting marsh grass, creating shallow water habitat, and stabilizing the shoreline.

These efforts should cut down on erosion and improve water quality. They'll also help store carbon in the marsh. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Maryland Coastal Bays Program will lead this project.

Another project focuses on Bottle Branch, a stream in Berlin. Assateague Coastal Trust is working with homeowners along the stream to tackle flooding, erosion, and habitat loss for wildlife. Students at nearby Buckingham Elementary School will get outdoor learning opportunities from the project too.

Maryland Coastal Bays Program is also working with Maryland's Program Open Space. Together, they're looking to buy land in the Bottle Branch watershed. That land could be protected from development and used to manage stormwater.

The state is also putting $250,000 toward monitoring projects for the 2027 fiscal year. That money will help track how well the restoration work is going.

"Science will be at the forefront of our efforts," McIntosh explained. "To that end, we have secured funding to monitor changes to the watershed as projects are completed." The results will show up in Maryland's Water Quality Annual Report Card.

"We will also be working with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science to establish new monitoring of social and economic factors," she added.

Newport Bay Partnership includes Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Assateague Coastal Trust, Lower Shore Land Trust, the Town of Berlin, and Worcester County Government.