Annapolis, MD (September 19, 2025) – County Executive Steuart Pittman, City of Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckey, and the Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County announced a slate of priority projects to be funded with a $2 million FY2026 Whole Watershed grant awarded by the Maryland State Management Team. The projects include ten implementation-ready actions that will improve water quality, enhance aquatic resources, strengthen stewardship, and advance watershed planning to guide future investments.
“The Severn River is a Chesapeake gem, and restoring its health will strengthen local communities,” said County Executive Steuart Pittman. “The projects moving forward in this first year are science-based and community driven. Governor Moore’s Whole Watershed Partnerships are the right way to engage people in this work, and nobody does it better than the Severn Watershed community.”
Five of the identified actions target highly impervious areas of the watershed where stormwater controls are limited or nonexistent. Runoff from these sites currently flows untreated into local waterways, carrying sediment and pollutants from parking lots and roads, raising stream temperatures, and degrading habitat, water quality, and stream resilience. The proposed practices will directly improve water quality by increasing retention time and managing flow; strengthen climate resilience through better flood mitigation and capacity to handle heavier storms; and support public health by adding vegetation and reducing flood risks that threaten roadways and housing.
Stormwater Management projects include:
- Key Point Giant and Wardour Community led by the Severn River Association
- Brewer's Hill Cemetery Step Pool Conveyance led by the City of Annapolis and The Resilience Authority
- Rideout Creek Roadside Gully Prevention led by the Severn RiverKeeper
- Two projects at Truxton Cove led by the Spa Creek Conservancy
In addition to stormwater management projects, the Merryman Stream Restoration is planned for year one of implementation. Prioritizing nature-based designs, stream restoration offers a promising way to restore shallow water habitat and living resources, improve the water quality of impaired streams, and improve the conditions of the local ecosystem.
“Water is such a huge part of the joy and lifestyle of living in Annapolis. It's who we are," said Mayor Gavin Buckley. "Protecting that resource isn’t about one big project like City Dock. It’s about dozens, maybe even hundreds of smaller efforts in all wards of the city. From massive infrastructure work to neighborhood stormwater fixes, these investments are the least we can do for future generations."
Aquatic resource enhancement is being advanced through the Oyster Recovery Partnership’s Build-A-Reef program, which will assess viable bottom areas in the Severn River for future oyster bed establishment. At the same time, partners are laying the groundwork for future investments and building local stewardship by supporting the Tree Ambassador program with the Watershed Stewards Academy. Additional efforts include developing a protective overlay in the Jabez subwatershed with the Center for Ecosystem Recovery and designing a trail system for the historic community of Mulberry Hills with Breaking Boundaries Environmental.
Full more details on the Whole Watershed effort and FY26 projects visit here.