Severn River Watershed will Receive Funds from Huntley-backed Bill
Anne Arundel County’s watershed will receive funding as part of the Whole Watershed Act, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources said Thursday.
The Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County for the Severn River was one of five watersheds in the state selected for restoration efforts aimed at improving quality of life, bolstering industries like tourism and seafood, and protecting the Chesapeake Bay.
“Prioritizing these five watershed programs will ensure Maryland agriculture, Maryland tourism, and Maryland businesses remain strong,” Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, said in a news release. “Our administration’s environmental protection work isn’t just responsible — it’s strategic — and it’s going to advance our economic growth agenda for the entire state.”
The Whole Watershed Restoration Partnership’s State Management Team made the choice. Anne Arundel’s application detailed the effects of environmental degradation and urban development on the 81-square-mile Severn River watershed.
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The Whole Watershed Act passed last year and was introduced by Anne Arundel’s then-state Sen. Sarah Elfreth and Del. Sara Love, who represents District 16 in Montgomery County.
The five-year pilot program is an effort to restore rivers and streams. It was created in response to the 2023 Comprehensive Evaluation of System Response report, which recommended focusing restoration efforts on key watersheds to improve water quality, habitat, and living resources.
“The Severn River is truly the artery that connects us, and by restoring nature and quality of life across its watershed, we are showing that people and nature can and must coexist,” said County Executive Steuart Pittman in a Nov. 25 letter to state management.
The program provides grants for up to 50% of project costs, with watersheds required to secure additional funding from other sources. During fiscal year 2026, the five programs will each receive at least $2 million in initial funding. Anne Arundel County’s Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration has identified $23 million worth of projects in the Severn watershed over the next five years, according to the Office of the County Executive.
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