June 19, 2022 by WCBC Radio
Funded projects statewide for new and improved boating access, navigation and safety
Solley Cove Boat Ramp in Anne Arundel County, completed in 2021 with support from the Waterways Improvement Fund. Photo by Carla Fleming, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is providing $13.5 million in Waterways Improvement Fund grants to improve and improve public access to boating, facilities and navigation throughout the state.
This funding is being awarded to 45 applicants across the state, supporting efforts that include new public boating access, amenities and facilities; dredging of waterways; emergency vessels and equipment for local first responders; and other important infrastructure and initiatives.
“The Maryland Waterways Improvement Fund has been an extremely valuable program for 56 years,” said Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio. “Without this, we would not be able to invest in these essential navigation projects in partnership with our counties, riverside communities and waterway users.”
The Waterways Improvement Fund was established in 1966 to support the development, enjoyment, and use of Maryland’s waters for the benefit of the general public. The fund comes primarily from the one-time 5% excise tax paid to the state when a boat is purchased and titled in the state, as well as a small portion of the state gasoline tax .
The Waterways Improvement Fund is primarily used for the construction and maintenance of more than 400 public navigation facilities and more than 250 public navigation canals across the state, as well as the acquisition of ships from icebreaking and salvage.
Applications are reviewed and projects selected based on local and state government needs and priorities, then evaluated to determine benefit to the general boating public.
MNR will be accepting applications for the Waterways Improvement Fund for the next fiscal year through the Online Grants Portal.
Projects funded in fiscal year 2023:
Anne Arundel County
Podickory Creek, Annapolis
Dredging
$325,000
Mill Creek, Arnold
Dredging
$362,500
South County Dredged Beneficial Use Site, Deale
$250,000
Baltimore County
Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department
Main lifeboat and engine replacement
$12,500
Bowleys Quarters Community Volunteer Fire Department, Middle River
Fire Boat Replacement Project
$50,000
Gunpowder Falls State Park, Dundee Creek Marina
Rehabilitation of dredged material placement
$200.00
Baltimore City
Baltimore City Fire Department
Fire rescue boat replacement, diving rescue team
$23,000
Carolina County
Choptank Marina, Preston
Installing the fuel tank
$250,000
Rehabilitation of the marina car park
$75,000
Martinak State Park
Rehabilitation engineering for the placement of dredged materials
$200,000
Cecil County
City of Charlestown
Engineering of dredging projects
0,000
Dorchester County
Crocheron Quay, Bishops Head
Partition and parking
$150,000
City of Cambridge, Franklin Street Boat Ramp
Pier repairs
$250,000
City of Cambridge Municipal Marina
Maintenance of floating breakwaters
$95,000
Harford County
Mariner Point Park, Joppa
Parking lot resurfacing
$200,000
Kent County
Betterton Fire Company
Purchase of a fire/rescue boat
$50,000
Prince George’s County
Prince George’s County Fire Department/EMS, Largo
Water Safety Rescue and Resource Enhancement
$15,000
Queen Anne’s County
Centerville Landing
Boat ramp replacement
$250,000
Deep landing ramp
Renovation of nautical facilities
$250,000
Kent Narrows – Chester River, North Approach Channel
Dredging
$1 million
Love Point State Park
Facilities Improvement Project
$800,000
Matapeake landing stage
Boat ramp replacement
$250,000
Matapeake Marine Terminal
Access channel dredging
$100,000
City of Queenstown
Queenstown Creek Channel Dredging – Phase I
$100,000
of Queen Anne County
Hydraulic boat trailer
$150,000
County of Somerset
Somers Cove Marina, Crisfield
Marina Bulkhead Replacement and Site Improvements – Phase 3
$3 million
Webster Cove Marina, Mount Vernon
Marina improvements
$150,000
St. Mary’s County
Point Lookout State Park
Boat ramps and jetty replacement
$500,000
Ridge Volunteer Fire Department
Emergency Response Raft Equipment
$50,000
St. George’s Creek
Maintenance Dredging and Beneficial Use at Piney Point
$540,000
Talbot County
Oak Creek Landing, Newcomb
Redo the terrace
$30,000
Windy Hill Landing, Trappe
Redo the terrace
$10,000
Wye Landing, Wye Mills
Repaving
$65,000
Washington County
Potomac Valley Fire Company, Sharpsburg
Lifeboat
$17,550
City of Williamsport
Engineering of the new boat launch
$70,000
Wicomico County
Cedar Hill Landing, Bivalve
Expansion of existing Wicomico County dredge placement site
$750,000
Nanticoke Harbor
Dredging
$50,000
Worcester County
Landing of the southern tip, Berlin
Restoration of the launching ramp. Assateague side
$250,000
Pocomoke River State ParkMilburn and Shad Landings
Replacement of the launching ramp and improvement of the toilet block
$1.2 million
Snow Hill public landing stage
Retaining wall/riprap engineering
$50,000
Statewide
Statewide Emergency Maintenance Dredging
$679,213
State correspondence for Federal Access to Navigation (BA) and Navigational Infrastructure Grant (BIG) grants
$250,000
Maryland Pumping Grant Program
$145,237
Natural Resources Police Purchase(s) of search and rescue vessels
$125,000
General maintenance and repairs of state-owned nautical facilities
$60,000
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