The chesapeake BAY national estuarine research reserve in maryland (CBNERR-MD) was designated in 1985 at monie BAY; two additional components were added in 1990 at otter point creek and JUG BAY

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a Cooperative Agreement totaling $1,258,525 ($880,967 federal obligation with $377,558 in matching funds) to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) under the Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserves program (CFDA 11.420). The award, effective October 1, 2025, through March 31, 2027, supports the operations, research, monitoring, education, coastal training, and stewardship activities of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Maryland (CBNERR-MD), which operates three designated components at Monie Bay, Otter Point Creek, and Jug Bay.

Under this award, CBNERR-MD will utilize its protected estuarine habitat as natural field laboratories and living classrooms to deliver coastal resource management training and education. Key deliverables include infrastructure improvements at the Monie Bay component, continued long-term ecological monitoring, educational programming, support for graduate and professional fellows, advancement of Maryland's coastal training program, and resiliency and restoration monitoring activities conducted in partnership with Maryland's Coastal Program. The reserve will track progress against its 2019-2024 strategic plan while addressing 312 necessary and recommended actions, with administration by DNR in cooperation with federal, state, county governments, and nonprofit partners.

CBNERR-MD is administered by the maryland department of natural resources (DNR) that cooperates with federal, state and county governments and non-profits. DNR is submitting its FY2025 application to support operations, research and monitoring, education, coastal training and stewardship activities from october 1, 2025 through march 31, 2027. DNR is requesting $880,967 which will be matched by $377,558. Match is provided by DNR for the manager, research coordinator (RC), and waived indirect. CBNERR-MD utilizes protected estuarine habitat as natural field laboratories and living classrooms and provides training to improve coastal resource management. Cbnerrs mission is to empower and inspire stewards of maryland's natural places through studying, teaching, and connecting people to estuaries. During FY2025, CBNERR-MD will be tracking its efforts against their 2019-2024 strategic plan including: strengthening its presence at the monie BAY component through infrastructure improvements, continued long-term monitoring, and educational programming; working as a team to ensure the success of the margaret a davidson graduate fellow and NOAA digital coast fellow; advancing maryland's coastal training program, and working with maryland's coastal program to conduct and oversee resiliency through restoration monitoring. We will also continue to address our 312 necessary and recommended actions.