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State awards $2 million-per-year watershed grant to restore Newport Bay; Berlin to partner on stream and marsh projects
Summary
Maryland Coastal Bays and town staff said a state Whole Watershed award will fund targeted restoration in the Newport Bay watershed with $2 million per year for five years starting July 2025 and requires a 1:1 local match; planned work includes Abbey Lane, Hudson Branch stream restoration and a Bottle Branch project integrated into a future elementary school.
The Town of Berlin will be a local partner in a five‑year state watershed restoration effort after Maryland Coastal Bays officials said the program won a Whole Watershed grant that provides $2,000,000 per year for five years beginning July 2025.
Kevin [Maryland Coastal Bays] told the council the group selected the Newport Bay watershed because its "declining health" — measured by nutrient levels, submerged aquatic vegetation and shellfish counts — made it a priority. "What this award amounts to is $2,000,000 per year for the for 5 years," he said.
The program will fund a mix of completed, ongoing and proposed projects across the watershed. Officials highlighted past work such as the Graham Avenue wetland project and identified near‑term efforts including an Abbey Lane stormwater project and the Hudson Branch stream restoration along Bottle Branch Road. Kevin said the project team is "hoping to be finished up design" on Hudson Branch in the coming months and to seek permits for construction within a year.
Council members and staff also heard about a proposed Bottle Branch stream restoration adjacent to Buckingham Elementary that the presenters said could be designed to double as an outdoor classroom and environmental‑education resource for students.
Roman [Maryland Coastal Bays] emphasized monitoring as a core program element: the five‑year funding horizon is intended to show measurable restoration success in a targeted watershed, with science and community engagement tied together. The presenters said monitoring will track changes over time so the state and local partners can document outcomes.
Funding will require a 1:1 match, presenters said. Kevin and Roman outlined several potential match sources, including county work to connect properties from septic to public sewer east of town and federal funds used by partners such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for marsh projects. "The monies that are being used to do that…are federal dollars that can be used to match these dollars," Kevin said.
Town staff said the grant complements a separate Chesapeake Bay Trust award and other local resilience planning, and that the two programs together will help identify a pipeline of projects that can move from design to construction using multiple funding sources.
The presentation closed with an invitation for ongoing community involvement; staff and presenters said outreach to farmers, homeowners and businesses will be central to design and implementation.
After the formal presentation, council members thanked the Coastal Bays staff for their partnership and confirmed follow‑up conversations on specific project timing and design details.
