Projects Funded Statewide for New and Improved Boating Access, Navigation, and Safety
Solley Cove Boat Ramp in Anne Arundel County, completed in 2021 with support of the Waterway Improvement Fund. Photo by Carla Fleming, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Annapolis, MD - The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is providing $13.5 million in Waterway Improvement Fund grants to enhance and improve public boating access, facilities, and navigation throughout the state.
This funding is awarded to 45 applicants statewide, supporting efforts that include new public boating access, amenities, and facilities; dredging of navigable waterways; emergency vessels and equipment for local first responders; and other important infrastructure and initiatives.
“Maryland’s Waterway Improvement Fund has been an extremely valuable program for 56 years,” Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio said. “Without it, we would not be able to invest in these essential boating projects in partnership with our counties, waterfront communities, and waterway users.”
The Waterway Improvement Fund was created in 1966 to support the development, enjoyment, and use of Maryland’s waters for the benefit of the general boating public. The fund is primarily derived 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 gas tax.
The Waterway Improvement Fund primarily is used toward the construction and maintenance of more than 400 public boating facilities and more than 250 public navigational channels across the state as well as acquisition of icebreaking and rescue vessels.
Applications are reviewed and projects selected based on local government and state needs and priorities, then evaluated to determine the benefit to the general boating public.
DNR will accept Waterway Improvement Fund applications for the next fiscal year through the department’s online Grants Gateway.
Projects funded in Fiscal Year 2023:
Anne Arundel County
Podickory Creek, Annapolis Dredging $325,000 Mill Creek, Arnold Dredging $362,500 South County Dredge Material Beneficial Use Site, Deale $250,000
Baltimore County
Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department Primary rescue boat and motor replacement $12,500 Bowleys Quarters Community Volunteer Fire Department, Middle River Fire boat replacement project $50,000 Gunpowder Falls State Park, Dundee Creek Marina Dredged material placement rehabilitation $200,00
Baltimore City
Baltimore City Fire Department Fire rescue boat replacement, dive rescue team $23,000
Caroline County
Choptank Marina, Preston Fuel tank installation $250,000 Marina parking lot restoration $75,000 Martinak State Park Dredged material placement rehabilitation engineering $200,000
Cecil County
Town of Charlestown Dredging project engineering $100,000
Dorchester County
Crocheron Wharf, Bishops Head Bulkhead and parking lot $150,000 City of Cambridge, Franklin Street Boat Ramp Jetty Repairs $250,000 City of Cambridge Municipal Marina Floating breakwater maintenance $95,000
Harford County
Mariner Point Park, Joppa Parking lot resurfacing $200,000
Kent County
Betterton Fire Company Purchase of fire/rescue boat $50,000
Prince George’s County
Prince George’s County Fire/EMS, Largo Water safety rescue and resource enhancements $15,000
Queen Anne’s County
Centreville Landing Boat ramp replacement $250,000 Deep Landing Boat Ramp Boating facility renovations $250,000 Kent Narrows – Chester River, northern approach channel Dredging $1 million Love Point State Park Facility improvements project $800,000 Matapeake Landing Boat ramp replacement $250,000 Matapeake Marine Terminal Access channel dredging $100,000 Town of Queenstown Queenstown Creek channel dredging – Phase I $100,000 Queen Anne’s County Hydraulic boat trailer $150,000
Somerset County
Somers Cove Marina, Crisfield Bulkhead replacement and marina site improvements – Phase 3 $3 million Webster Cove Marina, Mt. Vernon Marina improvements $150,000
St. Mary’s County
Point Lookout State Park Boat ramps and pier replacement $500,000 Ridge Volunteer Fire Department Emergency response raft equipment $50,000 St. George Creek Maintenance dredge and beneficial use at Piney Point $540,000
Talbot County
Oak Creek Landing, Newcomb Redecking $30,000 Windy Hill Landing, Trappe Redecking $10,000 Wye Landing, Wye Mills Repaving $65,000
Washington County
Potomac Valley Fire Company, Sharpsburg Rescue boat $17,550 Town of Williamsport New boat ramp engineering $70,000
Wicomico County
Cedar Hill Landing, Bivalve Expansion of existing Wicomico County dredged material placement site $750,000 Nanticoke Harbor Dredging $50,000
Worcester County
South Point Landing, Berlin Boat ramp restoration. Assateague side $250,000 Pocomoke River State Park, Milburn and Shad Landings Boat ramp replacement and comfort station improvements $1.2 million Snow Hill Public Landing Retaining wall/rip rap engineering $50,000
Statewide
Statewide Emergency Maintenance Dredging $679,213 State match for federal Boating Access (BA) and Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) grants $250,000 Maryland Pumpout Grant Program $145,237 Natural Resources Police Search and Rescue Vessel Purchase(s) $125,000 General Maintenance and Repairs to State-Owned Boating Facilities $60,000
