$300K Grants Available To Protect Rivers In Anne Arundel County

ANNE ARUNDEL, MD - From the Chesapeake Bay Trust: The Anne Arundel County Watershed Protection and Restoration Program (WPRP), a division of the Department of Public Works, and the Chesapeake Bay Trust announce a grant opportunity to support watershed restoration projects in Anne Arundel County.

Proposals for both small-scale and large-scale water quality improvement projects are eligible for consideration, with grants ranging from $20,000 to $300,000. Example project types include installation of rain gardens, bioswales, stream and wetland restoration, step pools, living shorelines, and green roofs.

“We are committed improving the health of our rivers and streams,” said Erik Michelsen, administrator of the Watershed Protection and Restoration Program. “This grant opportunity emphasizes the role everyone can play in stewarding our natural resources and allows us to engage the entire community in our efforts to ensure a healthy Chesapeake watershed.”

Nonprofit organizations such as local watershed groups; community associations; faith-based organizations; and service, youth, and civic groups are eligible and encouraged to apply for funding. Applicants must arrange a site visit with the County and the Trust prior to applying for funding.

“The Chesapeake Bay Trust is thrilled to continue our partnership with the County to engage local groups in watershed restoration projects,” said Dr. Jana Davis, executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Trust. “These projects produce measurable results that both improve water quality and create healthier communities.”

The deadline for applications is Thursday, December 7, 2017, at 5 pm. To arrange a site visit, which is recommended before November 10, 2017, contact Abbi Huntzinger at 410-974-2941, x106. Please visit https://cbtrust.org/anne-arundel-county-watershed-restoration to review the request for proposals and learn more.

About the Chesapeake Bay Trust

The Chesapeake Bay Trust (www.cbtrust.org) is a nonprofit grant-making organization dedicated to improving the natural resources of Maryland and the Chesapeake region through environmental education, community engagement, and local watershed restoration. The Trust engages hundreds of thousands of individuals annually in projects that have a measurable impact on the waterways and other natural resources of the region. The Trust is supported by the sale of the Treasure the Chesapeake license plate, donations to the Chesapeake Bay and Endangered Species Fund on the Maryland State income tax form, donations from individuals and corporations, and partnerships with private foundations and federal, state, and local agencies such as Anne Arundel County. The Trust has received the highest rating from Charity Navigator for fourteen years: 92 percent of the Trust’s expenditures are directed to its restoration and education programs.

About Anne Arundel County and the WPRP

Anne Arundel County is a jurisdiction located on the Chesapeake Bay between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland. With more than 533 miles of shoreline, we are committed to making our County the best place to live, work and start a business in the State of Maryland. In furtherance of that goal, our many waterways including the Patuxent, Magothy, Rhode, South, Severn and West rivers must be protected by forest tracts that play a critical role in water quality. County Executive Steve Schuh is investing $233 million in waterway improvement over a six-year period. The WPRP is dedicated to meeting the County’s clean water obligations under its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit and Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP), which require reductions in storm water and pollutants flowing into the County’s waterways. Visit http://aarivers.org for updates on watershed projects and programs.

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