Projects Funded Statewide for New and Improved Public Boating Access, Waterway Dredging, and Safety Equipment
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore announced that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is providing $13.5 million in Waterway Improvement Funds. The funds will support new and improved public boating access facilities, dredging of navigable public waterways, emergency vessels and equipment for local first responders, and other important infrastructure and initiatives.
“Investing in infrastructure is integral to achieving the full potential of Maryland’s resources,” said Gov. Moore. “This partnership between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and our local jurisdictions is critical to improving, maintaining, and promoting use of our public waterways.”
The Waterway Improvement Fund is primarily derived from the one-time 5% excise tax when a boat is purchased and titled in the state, as well as a small portion of the state gas tax. It has been used to construct and maintain more than 400 public boating facilities and more than 250 public navigational channels across the state as well as the acquisition of vessels.
“Maryland’s Waterway Improvement Fund is an outstanding example of a user-pay, user-benefit program,” said Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. “Paid largely by Maryland’s boating public, supporting local efforts are critical to this partnership.”
Applications are reviewed and projects are selected based on local government and state needs and priorities, which are evaluated to determine the benefit to the general motor boating public.
Starting after July 15, the Department of Natural Resources will accept Waterway Improvement Fund applications for the next fiscal year through the department’s online Grants Gateway.
Local projects funded in FY24 include:
Allegany County: $300,000 Rocky Gap State Park Boat ramp and bulkhead replacement Anne Arundel County: $1,484,000 City of Annapolis, Fourth Street Public boating access, improvement and engineering Lake Placid Dredging City of Annapolis, Hawkins Cove Engineering for dredging City of Annapolis, Shipwright Street End Public boating access, improvement and engineering Little Magothy River Dredging Church Creek Dredging Duvall/Kitty Creek Dredging Baltimore County: $365,000 Pleasure Island, Sparrows Point Dredging and beneficial use Bowleys Quarters Community Volunteer Fire Department Fire/rescue boat replacement Shallow Creek, Sparrows Point Dredging Calvert County: $229,063 St. Leonard Volunteer Fire Department Dive and rescue rigid hull vessel Hallowing Point State Park Boat ramp dredging and beneficial use Caroline County: $500,000 Choptank Marina, Preston Basin dredging Cecil County: $394,360 Beck’s Landing, Chesapeake City Re-decking promenade Water Street Boat Ramp and Fire Pier, Charlestown Dredging Dorchester County: $430,000 City of Cambridge Municipal Marina Wave screen Tylers Cove, Church Creek Renovation Frederick County: $100,000 Pinecliff Park Boat Ramp, Frederick Boat ramp rehabilitation Kent County: $796,800 Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company Rescue vessel Chestertown Marina Dredging Betterton Public Landing Preliminary engineering Prince George's County: $250,000 Jackson's Landing, Upper Marlboro Boating access facility Improvement Queen Anne's County: $387,000 United Communities Volunteer Fire Department, Stevensville Fire Boat Motor Replacement Thompson Creek Landing, Stevensville Bulkhead Replacement Little Creek Landing, Chester Drainage and parking lot improvements Somerset County: $212,000 City of Crisfield Depot Replacement of piers and walkways Somerset County (countywide) Marina facility safety improvements Tylerton Harbor, Smith Island Breakwater St. Mary's County: $1,250,000 St. Inigoes Landing Public boating access improvement Point Lookout State Park Marina renovations and improvements Talbot County: $160,000 Windy Hill Landing, Bruceville Landing Reconstruction Easton Point Park Engineering for Dredging Washington County: $200,000 Town of Williamsport Boat Ramp Construction Wicomico County: $480,603 City of Salisbury Fire Department New outboard boat motor Cedar Hill Marina, Bivalve Bulkhead restoration Pirates Wharf Park, Quantico Boating Facility Construction Worcester County: $2,029,177 Pocomoke City Volunteer Fire Company Rescue boat safety equipment Pocomoke City Boat Ramp Boating access improvements, engineering services Public Landing, Wharf Road, Snow Hill Retaining wall and rip rap construction George Island Landing Road, Stockton Boat Landing Engineering Services Pocomoke River State Park Shad Landing Marina and Boat Ramp Marina and boat ramp replacement Pocomoke River State Park Milburn Landing Boat Ramp Ramp replacement Statewide: $3,931,997 Maryland Pumpout Grant Program Maryland Natural Resources Police Patrol vessel and outboard motor replacement Statewide Emergency Maintenance and Dredging State Match for Federal Boating Access and Boating Infrastructure Grants Additional funds reserved for state projects and priorities as determined by the Department of Natural Resources.
