Water Issues and Restoration

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Clean water is one of the Chesapeake Bay region’s most important resources. The Bay watershed’s many freshwater rivers and streams provide drinking water for people and habitats for animals and plants.

But many of those same waterways suffer from reduced water quality from a variety of causes — like excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. Erosion. Harmful algal blooms. Heavy metals and other toxins from human activities.

What Extension Can Do For You

Maryland Sea Grant Extension’s specialists work with local governments, community groups, and citizens to help improve water quality on the local level and in the Bay. Click on the links below to learn more about our projects regarding watershed restoration and stormwater management ponds.

Watershed Restoration: Managing Stormwater, Restoring Natural Habitats

  • Our watershed restoration specialists help Marylanders install green design projects — like stream restoration projects and rain gardens — that are based on sound practices.
  • These measures can manage the flow of stormwater locally by soaking up water (to limit flooding) and treating it (to remove pollutants).
  • We also work to help groups and communities restore natural habitats that can help to improve water quality Bay-wide. Those include wetlands, streams, and forest buffers, which are trees planted along a waterway.
  • Our specialists assist Watershed Stewards Academies around Maryland to train volunteers to lead and find funding for community-based watershed restoration projects.
  • We help communities and individuals find technical assistance and funding to support their watershed restoration activities. For more information on sources of funding for water quality improvement projects, check out our Maryland Watershed Restoration Assistance Directory.

For more information, contact the watershed restoration specialist in your region and learn more about their work.

Water Quality Improvement: Native Plants, Stormwater Management

Watershed Restoration Specialists

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.


Central Maryland

Frederick, Howard, and Montgomery Counties

Amanda Rockler
Phone: (301) 590-2816
Email: arockler@umd.edu

Lower Eastern Shore

Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties

Jennifer Dindinger

Maryland Sea Grant Extension
501 Court Lane, Rm 208
P.O. Box 299
Cambridge, MD 21613

Phone: (410) 228-8800
Email: jdinding@umd.edu

Mid and Upper Eastern Shore

Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Talbot Counties

Eric Buehl

Maryland Sea Grant Extension
Wye Research & Education Center
P.O. Box 169
Queenstown, MD 21658

Phone: (443) 205-5924
Email: ebuehl@umd.edu

Northern Maryland

Baltimore, Carroll, and Harford Counties and Baltimore City

Claire Cambardella (she/her)

University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension
1114 Shawan Road
Cockeysville, MD 21030

Phone: (410) 887-8055
Email: ccambard@umd.edu

Southern Maryland

Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George's, and St. Mary's Counties

Jackie Takacs

Maryland Sea Grant Extension
Central Maryland Research and Education Center - Upper Marlboro
2005 Largo Road
Upper Marlboro , MD 20774

Phone: (240) 393-6508
Email: takacs@mdsg.umd.edu

Calvert and St. Mary's Counties

Caroline DiGiovanni
Phone: (240) 309-4189
Email: cdigiova@umd.edu

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