Five stormwater management projects aimed at controlling the flow of pollutants from parking lots and roads into the Severn River are part of a new statewide grant program benefiting watershed efforts in Anne Arundel County.
Maryland’s Whole Watershed Fund designated the Severn River for a five-year investment, awarding $2 million in its first year, fiscal 2026. Sponsor organizations for Antietam Creek, the Baltimore Harbor, Newport Bay and the Upper Choptank River all received at least $2 million in initial funding for watershed restoration projects across the state.
“The Severn River is a Chesapeake gem, and restoring its health will strengthen local communities,” Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, a Democrat, said in a news release. “The projects moving forward in this first year are science-based and community driven.”
The Whole Watershed Partnerships were born out of the Maryland General Assembly’s 2024 Whole Watershed Act. The legislation responded to recommendations made in the 2023 Comprehensive Evaluation of System Response report, in which dozens of scientists assessed water quality progress for the Chesapeake Bay.
Five of the Severn River projects target highly impervious areas of the watershed where stormwater controls are limited or nonexistent. Runoff from these sites currently flows untreated into local waterways, carrying sediment and pollutants from parking lots and roads, raising stream temperatures and degrading habitat, water quality and stream resilience.
The stormwater projects include:
The Key Point Giant
Wardour Community Stormwater Management
Brewer’s Hill Cemetery Step Pool Conveyance
Rideout Creek Roadside Gully Prevention
Two projects at Truxton Cove
In total, the effort consists of 10 projects, which the county and city say are “implementation-ready.” Other initiatives include assessing viable areas in the Severn River for future oyster bed creation, stream restoration projects, and several planning and design efforts.
The Severn River is a 14-mile tidal estuary in Anne Arundel County, meaning it acts as a sort of transition zone between fresh water and salt water from the Atlantic Ocean. Its 81-square-mile watershed supports diverse aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems but faces challenges due to urban development and environmental degradation.
Supporters of the projects say they will improve water quality, enhance aquatic resources, and advance planning around future watershed investments.
“Water is such a huge part of the joy and lifestyle of living in Annapolis. It’s who we are,” Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley said in a news release. “Protecting that resource isn’t about one big project like City Dock. It’s about dozens, maybe even hundreds of smaller efforts in all wards of the city.”
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