WORCESTER COUNTY, Md. -- The Maryland Coastal Bays Program announced it has been awarded the Whole Watershed Act Grant. The money received will go towards much-needed improvements in Newport Bay.
MCBP consistently assesses and scores the six coastal bays that line Maryland's coast: St. Martin River, Assawoman Bay, Isle of Wight Bay, Newport Bay, Sinepuxent Bay and Chincoteague Bay.
In 2023, Newport Bay scored the lowest, a trend MCBP Executive Director Kevin Smith said he and his staff have seen for the past five years.
Coastal Bays Report Card:
- St. Martin River: C
- Assawoman Bay: B-
- Isle of Wight Bay: B-
- Newport Bay: C-
- Sinepuxent Bay: B+
- Chincoteague Bay: B-
"What we're pretty sure of is that with the right focus and the right work getting done and the monies being allocated we can do work that is going to have a measurable improvement in Newport Bay," said Smith.
The grant will be spread out over five years. In year one, Smith said MCBP will receive $2 million. It will help the program begin stormwater management, flood mitigation and habitat restoration efforts.
However, MCBP might not get all the money it hoped for. The organization's proposal to the state was for $17 million. Smith said the state's financial shortfall may lead to a smaller payout.
"That's probably going to present some challenges to us, however, what's really important is that we know the state has made this commitment and we're really excited about that," said Smith.
Smith said he met with Maryland officials on Wednesday to discuss the financial future of their new grant and that MCBP should have more information in the coming months.