Project Grant 953A0073

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA) (PL 117-58) TO MARYLAND COASTAL BAYS PROGRAM. THE RECIPIENT WILL SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN (CCMP) AND STRATEGIC PLAN TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, PROTECT THE NATURAL HABITAT AND LIVING RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE HUMAN USES. THE PROJECTS PROPOSED FOR FUNDING VIA THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW (BIL) WILL LEVERAGE EXISTING EFFORTS. SPECIFICALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL IMPLEMENT PROJECTS WITH ACTIVITIES THAT INCLUDE THE RESTORATION OF WETLAND HABITAT, ADDRESSING NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION, DEVELOPING AND DELIVERING COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND HABITAT SURVEYING AND ANALYSIS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY AND COALITION BUILDING, AND MORE.ACTIVITIES:THE WORK TO BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THIS PROJECT INCLUDES RESTORATION OF WETLAND HABITAT, ADDRESSING NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION, DEVELOPING AND DELIVERING COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND HABITAT SURVEYING AND ANALYSIS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY AND COALITION BUILDING, AND MORE.SUBRECIPIENT:ACTIVITIES THAT SUBAWARDS WILL SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE CCMP AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS THAT SUPPORT THE MCBP EQUITY STRATEGY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCY GOALS. RECIPIENTS AND THEIR ACTIVITIES INCLUDE TITLE 1 WORCESTER COUNTY SCHOOLS DEVELOPED ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND STEAM EDUCATION PROGRAMMING, THE CITY OF OCEAN CITY AND THE CITY OF BERLIN FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCY AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, AND LOCAL NONPROFITS WHO WILL APPLY THROUGH RFP FOR RESEARCH FUNDING TO FURTHER CCMP AND EQUITY STRATEGY GOALS.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES AND OUTCOMES INCLUDE: 20+ ACRES OF RESTORED WETLANDS, INSTALLATION OF NONPOINT SOURCE / NUTRIENT REDUCTION BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, MONITORING, ASSESSMENT, AND ANALYSIS OF WATER QUALITY FROM 70+ SAMPLING LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COASTAL BAYS, HABITAT SURVEYS, INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF CLIMATE STRESSORS ON THE COASTAL BAYS SYSTEM, INCREASED CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND AND RESPOND TO CLIMATE STRESSORS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, INCREASED CAPACITY AND ENGAGEMENT AROUND CLIMATE SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE EASTERN SHORE, DEVELOPMENT OF STEAM LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS WITHIN THE EASTERN SHORE, AND INCREASED CAPACITY OF THE MCBP TEAM TO IMPLEMENT THE CCMP. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THIS WORK AND THIS AWARD INCLUDE THE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE EASTERN SHORE REGION, SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE COASTAL BAYS WATERSHED, AND ADDITIONALLY THE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND EMPLOYEES OF TITLE I SCHOOLS SERVING THE AREA. THIS WORK ALSO BENEFITS VISITORS TO THE EASTERN SHORE AND COASTAL BAYS.