Annapolis, Maryland (October 10, 2025) – The Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration (BWPR) and Anne Arundel Watershed Stewards Academy (WSA) are the 2025 recipients of the "Overall Winner in MS4 Phase I Innovation & Program Management" Award from the Water Environment Federation’s National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Program for Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer Programs (MS4s).
In addition to BWPR’s foundational programming, some key highlights from this year's accomplishments that led to this award include:
- Watershed Walks - Launched in 2024, the "Watershed Walks" Program is a series of guided tours that offer residents a firsthand look at successful restoration projects. These quarterly events are designed to foster transparency and connect residents directly with the work being done in their communities.
- CCTV Inspection Program - Anne Arundel County manages a vast network of underground infrastructure, including approximately five million linear feet of closed storm drains and culverts. To maintain this critical system and minimize sediment transport, the county has implemented a comprehensive Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) inspection program...This innovative approach, combined with the use of CCTV to inspect the county’s extensive storm drain infrastructure, has resulted in over 1,800 completed maintenance and repair projects.
- Deale-Shady Side Flood Risk Reduction Study - In response to a growing threat [of sea level rise], BWPR is tackling the challenges posed by climate change. The Deale–Shady Side Peninsula, a low-lying coastal region, faces increasing flood risks from sea level rise, storm surge, and intense rainfall. In a proactive move, BWPR partnered with the Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County to conduct a comprehensive vulnerability assessment. This study, launched in January 2024 [and published in September 2025], analyzed a 13-square-mile area, combining stormwater modeling, sea level rise projections, and community-scale infrastructure assessments. The findings revealed that many neighborhoods already experience regular flooding that is projected to worsen without intervention. Based on this analysis, a suite of flood mitigation strategies was developed, including nature-based solutions like living shorelines and critical infrastructure upgrades.
- Watershed Stewards Academy's (WSA) RePlant Anne Arundel - In response to the loss of 2,500 forested acres in the county since 2013, WSA launched key initiatives to restore native habitats. The RePlant Anne Arundel and Backyard Buffers programs, created with support from Maryland DNR, have facilitated the planting of over 30,000 native trees and shrubs. These programs have resulted in 575 community projects, revitalizing our natural landscape.
“This award points to the amazing work of our Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration,” said DPW Director Karen Henry. “The work they complete each year not only improves the health of our waterways, it helps to protect public safety and personal property.”
Learn more about this award and other award-winning projects/programs here: https://www.aacounty.org/public-works/bwpr/watershed-restoration-projects/award-winning-projects
Find the WEF press release here: https://www.weftec.org/exhibit/about-the-exhibition/now/weftec-now/celebrating-innovation-and-leadership-2025-ms4-award-winners/