Section 320 of the CWA authorizes the administrator of the EPA to convene management conferences to develop comprehensive conservation and management plans for estuaries of national significance…

The EPA Region 3 awarded $1.7 million to the Maryland Coastal Bays Foundation, Inc. under the National Estuary Program (CFDA 66.456) for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This Project Grant funds implementation of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the Maryland Coastal Bays, an estuary of national significance. The award supports staff, travel, supplies, and contracts to deliver education programs, habitat restoration projects, water quality monitoring, oyster gardening initiatives, and green scholarships. Key activities include assessing trends in water quality and habitats, coordinating CCMP implementation across state and federal agencies, stakeholders, and NGOs, and monitoring the effectiveness of restoration and protection efforts across four thematic areas: healthy waters, fish and wildlife habitat protection, resilient communities and ecosystems, and public engagement and partnerships.

Two subawards complement the primary funding: the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science will receive $17.5K to develop annual Coastal Bays Report Cards, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources will receive $9K for aerial survey data collection supporting seagrass bed restoration. Anticipated deliverables include annual report cards, habitat and water quality data, community educational events, and semi-annual EPA reporting to track progress in protecting and restoring estuarine resources in the Maryland Coastal Bays region.

Section 320 of the CWA authorizes the administrator of the EPA to convene management conferences to develop comprehensive conservation and management plans for estuaries of national significance that are threatened by pollution, development, or overuse. The agreement provides funding to maryland coastal bays program for national estuary program (NEP) to support implementation of the NEP comprehensive conservation and management plan (ccmp). The ccmp covers four themes of work: provide healthy waters; protect fish, wildlife and their habitats; create resilient communities and ecosystems; and develop public engagement and partnerships. The workplan meets all programmatic requirements based on most recent guidance. Activities:the projects included will support activities that address the key challenges facing the estuary including assessing trends in water quality, habitats, natural resources and uses; coordinating implementation of the ccmp by the NEP, along with the state, federal, local agencies, stakeholders, ngos, citizens, partners, and others; and monitoring the effectiveness of activities conducted under the management conference approved ccmp and annual workplan. This grant will support staff, travel, supplies, and contracts to protect and restore water quality and habitat in the maryland coastal bays through projects including education programs, habitat restoration projects, water quality monitoring, oyster gardening, and green scholarships.subrecipient:one subaward will go to university of maryland center for environmental science (umces) to create the coastal bays annual report card ($17,500). The second subaward is to maryland department of natural resources for aerial survey data collection to support restoration of seagrass beds in the coastal bays ($9,000).outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include annual report cards, data on habitat and water quality, community events and educational offerings, and semi annual reporting to EPA. The expected outcomes include improved understanding of changes in the mcbp ecosystem including water quality and habitat, increased public awareness and engagement, and improved and increased habitat and coastal resilience. The intended beneficiaries include local communities including residents and visitors in in the maryland coastal bays watersheds and this estuary directly benefit from this project.