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The Chesapeake Bay covers thousands of square miles, so it’s a tall order to restore the health of this ecosystem. Making progress requires a focused, local approach and many volunteers working stream by stream, community by community.
Maryland Sea Grant Extension offers a range of technical advice and support to help individuals and communities around the state improve water quality. We assist municipal governments, watershed groups, and others to fund, design, and install projects that will make a difference.
Maryland Sea Grant’s team of watershed restoration specialists works actively to address a persistent threat to water quality -- stormwater runoff.
During big rains, water pools up and washes over hard surfaces like parking lots, roofs, and roads. This runoff picks up nitrogen, phosphorus, and other pollutants, carrying them to nearby streams and rivers and, eventually, the Chesapeake.
Our Extension specialists assist communities throughout the Bay’s watershed to better manage their storm water. Some projects that can help include:
See more information from Maryland Sea Grant about rain gardens.
Read “A Garden of Opportunities for Cleansing Urban Storm Runoff,” an article in Chesapeake Quarterly, Maryland Sea Grant’s magazine.
How many homeowners have installed rain gardens? And what would it take for more to do so? A University of Maryland Extension report and survey examines awareness and adoption of four Best Management Practices for controlling stormwater: rain gardens, rain barrels, low fertilizer lawn care, and conservation landscaping.
To learn more about how stormwater can impact waterways, and how you can help, read Renewing an Urban Watershed, an issue of Chesapeake Quarterly, Maryland Sea Grant's magazine.
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This award-winning poster by the Extension watershed restoration specialists describes their study of stormwater management practices. |
Our watershed restoration experts also work to help communities and watershed groups restore natural habitats across Maryland. Healthy ecosystems help to trap nutrients and sediments before they reach the Bay. Some of our efforts include:
To learn more about restoring Maryland streams, read our news stories:
“Accurate Maps Needed to Protect Streams in the Headwaters of the Chesapeake”
“Restoring Streams May Reduce Nitrogen Pollution in the Chesapeake Bay”
Cleaner water provides benefits at the local level and Baywide:
Maryland Sea Grant Extension employs five watershed restoration specialists located around Maryland who can assist individuals, groups, and communities with a variety of restoration projects.
Find out more about the services offered by the specialist for your area.
Frederick, Howard, and Montgomery Counties
Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties
Maryland Sea Grant Extension
501 Court Lane, Rm 208
P.O. Box 299
Cambridge, MD 21613
Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Talbot Counties
Maryland Sea Grant Extension
Wye Research & Education Center
P.O. Box 169
Queenstown, MD 21658
Baltimore, Carroll, and Harford Counties and Baltimore City
University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension
1114 Shawan Road
Cockeysville, MD 21030
Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George's, and St. Mary's Counties
Maryland Sea Grant Extension
Central Maryland Research and Education Center - Upper Marlboro
2005 Largo Road
Upper Marlboro , MD 20774
Calvert and St. Mary's Counties