Watershed Restoration Specialists

Are you a citizen or an organization looking for funding and technical assistance for projects to restore the Bay's watersheds? Click here to check out the resources in our Maryland Watershed Restoration Assistance Directory.

The Watershed Restoration Specialists focus their efforts in discrete regions in Maryland. The goal: to help local jurisdictions secure expertise and funding — especially from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund — to implement restoration projects that produce measurable improvements in water quality. Each specialist serves as faculty for the University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension Program.

Mid and Upper Eastern Shore

(Queen Anne's, Kent, Cecil, Talbot, and Caroline Counties)
Contact: Amy Scaroni (beginning in 2013)
Wye Research & Education Center
Phone: (410) 827-8056, ext. 140

Lower Eastern Shore

(Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, & Worcester Counties)
Contact: Jennifer Dindinger
University of Maryland/Dorchester County Office
Phone: (240) 393-7915

Jennifer Dindinger operates out of the University of Maryland Extension, Dorchester County office in Cambridge. She is focusing her efforts on supporting watershed-scale planning and implementation of restoration projects, providing water quality education to communities, and identifying community and economic development opportunities around natural resource protection.

Some examples of her projects include:

Developing a Watershed Stewards Academy for the Eastern Shore in partnership with several county governments and watershed groups, to train community leaders how to identify and implement stormwater management projects.
Developing a regional needs assessment to enhance program delivery and effectiveness.

Central Maryland

(Montgomery, Howard, & Frederick Counties)
Contact: Amanda Rockler
University of Maryland/Montgomery County Extension Office
Phone: (240) 393-8346

Amanda Rockler works from the County Extension office in Montgomery County where she is helping communities maintain and build partnerships, find and apply for funds, and locate technical assistance to improve water quality across Central Maryland.

Some examples of her projects include:

Working with Columbia Association, Howard County, and the University of Maryland to assess and overcome barriers to rain garden adoption using social media.
Working with Howard County Government, People Acting Together in Howard (PATH), the Parks & People Foundation, and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay on a pilot green jobs project. Amanda serves as the lead on the training, environmental education, and technical design support for the Restoring the Environment and Developing Youth (READY) program.
Developing a multi-jurisdictional Watershed Stewards Program in partnership with watershed organizations in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and the District of Columbia. This fall, the National Capital program will launch its fourth class and Howard County will launch its first class.

Northern Maryland

(Baltimore, Carroll, and Harford Counties)

Contact: Krisztian Varsa (beginning in 2013)
Maryland Sea Grant Extension/Baltimore County Office
Phone: (410) 771-1761

Southern Maryland

(Anne Arundel, Calvert, St. Mary's, Charles, & Prince George's Counties)
Contact: Jackie Takacs
St. Mary's College
Phone: (240) 393-6508

Jackie Takacs has offices at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum in Calvert County and at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in St. Mary’s County and focuses her efforts on watershed planning, project implementation, and environmental education within Southern Maryland. She is working with local watershed groups, community organizations, and county, state, and federal agencies on obtaining funding and completing projects that enhance habitat and improve water quality in Southern Maryland.

Some examples of her projects include:

Implementing rain barrel, rain garden, and other aquatic and watershed-related education and outreach programs for the citizens of Southern Maryland.
Working with state facilities and private property owners in developing and funding living shoreline and streamside buffer projects.
Developing Watershed Stewards Academies in partnership with local county agencies and watershed groups.