Baltimore County To Improve And Repair Waterways With $365,000 In State Funding

BALTIMORE COUNTY - Baltimore County is set to receive $365,000 for various waterway improvement projects as a part of the $13.5 million Waterway Improvement Fund.

In his announcement of the grants, Governor Moore highlighted that investment in infrastructure is crucial to sustainably harnessing Maryland's natural resources.

"This partnership between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and our local jurisdictions is critical to improving, maintaining, and promoting the use of our public waterways."

Baltimore County's funding will be used for several projects, including dredging at Pleasure Island and Shallow Creek and replacing a fire/rescue boat for Bowleys Quarters Community Volunteer Fire Department.

The Waterway Improvement Fund is primarily paid for by the one-time 5% excise tax on boat purchases and a portion of the state gas tax. Since its inception, the fund has facilitated the construction and maintenance of more than 400 public boating facilities and 250 public navigational channels across Maryland.

"Maryland's Waterway Improvement Fund is an outstanding example of a user-pay, user-benefit program," Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz said. "Paid largely by Maryland's boating public, supporting local efforts are critical to this partnership."

The Department of Natural Resources will open applications for the next fiscal year's Waterway Improvement Fund grants after July 15 through the department's online ​Grants Gateway.

Applications are evaluated based on local government and state needs, prioritizing projects that provide the most benefit to the general public using our waterways.

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