Project Grant 95333301

DESCRIPTION:THIS AWARD PROVIDES FUNDING THROUGH THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW (BIL) (ALSO KNOWN AS THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA)) FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EPA APPROVED MARYLAND COASTAL BAYS COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN (CCMP) UNDER SECTION 320 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT (CWA), WHICH WILL HELP RESTORE AND MAINTAIN THE WATER QUALITY AND ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THE MARYLAND COASTAL BAYS. THIS PROJECT OVERSEES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS OUTLINED UNDER MARYLAND COASTAL BAY'S (MCBP) WORKPLAN, THROUGH WHICH THE FEDERAL FUNDS AND OUTLINED ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENT THE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM'S (NEP) COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN (CCMP). THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MCBP CCMP.ACTIVITIES:UNDER THIS AWARD, MCBP INTENDS TO IMPLEMENT ACTIONS RELATED TO 52 ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VARIOUS GOALS WITHIN THEIR CCMP. THESE ACTIVITIES ARE DRIVEN BY SPECIFIC PRIORITY GOALS, INCLUDING: DECREASING NUTRIENT LOADING THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED; PRESERVING AND PROTECTING MARSHES, SHORELINES AND NEAR-SHORE HABITATS; FACILITATING AND MONITORING CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION PROJECTS; AND, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC TO SUPPORT KNOWLEDGEABLE DECISION-MAKING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND ITS FUTURE. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED UNDER THIS AWARD INCLUDE: COASTAL HABITAT RESTORATION, WATER QUALITY MONITORING, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCY EFFORTS, LIVING SHORELINE IMPROVEMENTS, STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, SUPPORTING DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AND HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AND MAINTAINING CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT CCMP GOALSSUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARDS WILL SUPPORT LOWER SHORE LAND TRUST FOR GRASSLANDS HABITAT INITIATIVE, OCEAN PINES ASSOCIATION FOR SOUTH GATE POND SOFT SHORELINE, TOWN OF OCEAN CITY FOR NORTHSIDE PARK SHORELINE RESTORATION DESIGN AND PERMITTING, SUPPORT OF TITLE I SCHOOLS IN WORCESTER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION INITIATIVES, RESEARCH MINIGRANTS FOR STUDENTS, AND CCMP REVISION ASSISTANCE. OUTCOMES:ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES RELATED TO THIS AWARD INCLUDE THE RESTORATION OF NONTIDAL WETLAND HABITAT FROM AGRICULTURAL LAND, THE INSTALLATION OF NATURAL SHORELINE TO ERODED AREAS, THE IMPROVEMENT OF STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN UNDERSERVED AREAS, THE DESIGN OF VARIOUS HABITAT AND COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AND STANDING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAMS. OUTCOMES FROM THIS AWARD INCLUDE IMPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND GROWTH IN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP IN THE WATERSHED, INCREASED COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP AND BEHAVIOR CHANGE AROUND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, AND THE PRESERVATION/ENHANCEMENT OF WATER QUALITY, CRITICAL HABITAT AND COASTAL RESILIENCE RESOURCES. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THIS AWARD INCLUDE THE CITIZENS OF THE LOCAL WATERSHED, VISITORS TO THE EASTERN SHORE AND COASTAL BAYS, INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES THAT RELY ON THE COASTAL BAYS, STUDENTS AND FACULTY OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM AND OF UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORES, AND THE LOCAL ECOSYSTEM AS A WHOLE.