Maryland Waterway Improvement Fund Grants

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is providing $10.5 million in Waterway Improvement Fund grants to improve public boating access and navigation throughout the state. The funding will go toward 49 projects in 18 counties from Allegany to Worcester.

Funded projects include the dredging of local navigation channels, maintaining public boating access facilities, improving parking and upgrading existing infrastructure such as bulkheads, piers and ramps. Funding is also provided to local first responders to enhance water rescue operations.

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. It is primarily derived from a five-percent vessel excise tax on boat purchases and titling.

Waterway Improvement Fund Grant Projects

Rocky Gap State Park
Design and construct Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant walkway leading to boat ramp

Broadwater Creek
Main channel dredging to restore boating access

Carrs Creek
Main channel dredging to restore boating access

Annapolis
Public boating facilities improvements

Parrish Creek
Install single lane boat ramp with floating pier and paved turnaround

Bird River and Railroad Creek
Main channel dredging to restore boating access in Bird River and Railroad Creek

Gunpowder Falls State Park
Middle River Dredge material placement site restoration

Middle River
Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company Purchase of fire/rescue boat and trailer

Baltimore City Fire Department
Purchase fire/rescue boat

Canton Waterfront Park
Parking lot improvements (Phase 2) including increasing green space at boat ramp facility

Baltimore City Downtown Sailing Center
Continued improvements for the establishment of one marina and expansion of another along Key Highway

Hallowing Point Boating Facility
Develop master plan for expanded Hallowing Point facility

North Beach Volunteer Fire Department
Purchase of a new fire/rescue boat

Choptank Marina
Improvements to existing pier, pump-out dock and fuel relocation

Charlestown Volunteer Fire Company
Purchase new fire/rescue boat

Chesapeake City Back Creek Basin
Dredging Back Creek Basin and the town dock/slips.

Elk Neck State Park
Construction of breakwaters for the Rogues Harbor boating facility

Smallwood State Park
Re-deck the boating ramp piers and the marina concession pier at Sweden Point Marina

Smallwood State Park
Design of bulkhead replacement along the Sweden Point Marina waterfront

Cambridge Municipal Marina Marina
bathhouse renovations

Elliott Island Marina, Vienna
Construct stone jetty

Tar Bay, Church Creek
Dredging Tar Bay – local cost share for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ channel

Vienna Waterfront Park
Extension of North and South Piers to provide additional slips

City Yacht Basin, Havre de Grace
Dredging fairways, marina basin and approach channel

Flying Point Park, Edgewood
Engineering, permitting and renovation of the west pier to include re-decking and raising the pier

Otter Point Creek – Bush River, Edgewood
Engineering for maintenance dredging Otter Point Creek – Bush River

Chestertown Marina
Replace bulkheads and piers at Chestertown Marina

Turners Creek Public Landing, Kennedyville
Boat ramp improvements including new timber bulkhead, new concrete ramp, and parking lot resurfacing

Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad
Purchase new fire/rescue boat motor

Prince George’s County, Fort Washington
Purchase new high performance all-terrain airboat for water rescue

Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department, Chester
Purchase of fire/rescue boat motors and equipment

Kent Narrows, Grasonville
Maintenance dredge the north side Kent Narrows, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ channel

Matapeake Terminal Gas Dock, Stevensville
Replacement of gas dock and fuel system

Brick Kiln Pier, Crisfield
Removal of pilings at Brick Kiln pier and beach that impede navigation

Webster’s Cove Marina, Princess Anne
Replacement of 190 feet of deteriorating bulkhead at Webster’s Cove Harbor

St. Marys Countywide
Public boating facilities improvement

Point Lookout State Park
Re-deck marina boardwalk and piers

Clements Island, Coltons Point
Re-deck the north and south light house piers

Statewide Federal Sport Fish Restoration Boating Projects
Match State match for proposed federal sport fish restoration boating projects

Statewide General Repairs
Complete dredging, navigation, and storm damage repair as needed in designated public shallow water navigation channels or publicly owned boating facilities

Statewide Living Shoreline Projects
Design and construction of living shoreline projects by the department’s Shoreline Conservation Service

Statewide
Replace Ice-breaker Replace M/V Tawes ice-breaking buoy tender

Back Creek Park, St. Michaels
Construction of waterman’s pier, and small boat access, including electric and water connection for facility

Dogwood Harbor, Tilghman
Maintenance dredging of Dogwood Harbor and the inlet to the harbor

Oxford
Maintenance and repairs to public boating facilities, including installation of floating dock

Mardela Springs
Boat Ramp Boat ramp improvements

Riverside Boat Ramp, Salisbury
Replace existing boat ramp

64th Street Boat Ramp, Ocean City
Engineering and construction to dredge channel at 64th Street boat ramp

Public Landing Marina, Snow Hill
Resurface and overlay parking lot

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources