Somers Cove Marina
By Lisa Bryant

MARYLAND – Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced $21.5 million in Waterway Improvement Fund grants for Fiscal Year 2025, including $10.8 million going toward communities on Delmarva.

The funds are derived from the state’s one-time 5% boat registration excise tax – and will go toward public boating access facilities, public waterway dredging and emergency vessels and equipment for first responders. 

Projects on Delmarva include:

Caroline County

  • Choptank Marina – $1.35 million for seawall and marina restoration

  • Crouse Park – $25,000 for bulkhead renovation

  • Martinak State Park – $950,000 for channel dredging and material placement site rehabilitation

  • Tuckahoe State Park – $225,000 for boat ramp replacement

Dorchester County

  • Back Creek – $50,000 for marina renovation

  • Jenkins Creek – $62,500 for dredging and beneficial reuse of materials

  • Langrells Island Boat Ramp – $100,000 for replacement and dredging

  • Lodgecliffe Canal – $37,500 for dredging and beneficial use of materials

  • Trenton Street Boat Ramp – $250,000 for phase 1 of site improvements

  • Tylers Cove Marina – $250,000 for phase 2 improvements

Somerset County

  • Crisfield Depot – $250,000 for pier and walkway replacement 

  • Deal Island– $100,000 for upper thoroughfare dredging
    Ewell County Dock – $50,000 for repairs

  • Janes Island State Park – $1 million for boat ramp repairs and transient slip improvements

  • Janes Island State Park Marina – $500,000 for dredging, dredge material placement and site repair

  • Flat Cap Beach (Janes Island State Park) – $65,000 for pier renovation

  • Somers Cove Marina – $2 million for bulkhead replacement and site improvements

  • St. Peters Creek – $250,000 for county dock and bulkhead rehabilitation

  • Tylerton Harbor (Smith Island) – $75,000 for breakwater improvements

Talbot County

  • Skipton Landing – $150,000 for reconstruction

  • New Bridge Landing – $25,000 for improvements

Wicomico County

  • Cedar Hill and Bivalve – $50,000 for channel and marina dredging

  • Cedar Hill Boat Ramp – $60,000 for renovation

  • Leonards Mill Park Boat Ramp – $60,000 for replacement

  • Nanticoke Harbor – $925,000 for dredging

Worcester County

  • Assateague State Park Boat Ramp – $125,000 for repairs and comfort station renovations

  • Little Salisbury Park – $150,000 for channel dredging

  • Natural Resources Police Area 1 Marine Facility – $500,000 for bulkhead replacement

  • Pocomoke River State Park, Milburn Landing – $125,000 for boat ramp replacement

  • Pocomoke River State Park, Shad Landing – $1.2 million for marina and boat ramp replacement and service building renovations

  • Stockton Volunteer Fire Department – $80,000 for a new rescue vessel

Queen Anne’s County

  • Kent Narrows Landing – $75,000 for bulkhead replacement and repairs

  • Muddy Creek – $350,000 for dredging

The FY26 Waterway Improvement Fund also includes funding for the following statewide projects:

  • Maryland Clean Vessel Act – $155,155 for the Pumpout Grant Program Match

  • Natural Resources Police – $260,000 for a new rescue and patrol vessel

  • DNR – $500,000 for the Abandoned Vessel Program and a new recovery vessel for debris 

  • State Match for Federal Boating Access Grants – $250,000

  • Statewide Emergency Dredging, Navigation, and Facility Needs – $1.16 million

DNR is now accepting applications for Fiscal Year 2026 through its online Grants Gateway.

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Bees is an Ocean City local familiar with Eastern Shore culture and history. She is passionate about audience engagement through community journalism, media literacy and language. Before joining WBOC, Bees was Editor in Chief of SU's student news outlet, The Flyer. She is thrilled to serve Delmarva as a newscast producer on WBOC's team.

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