The Whole Watershed Act (SB 969/HB 1165) establishes a highly collaborative, science-based approach to watershed restoration across the state promoting innovative, science-based solutions to waterway restoration efforts. The legislation will utilize existing state funds to create a new Whole Watershed Fund supporting a five-year pilot program targeting five Maryland watersheds that best represent the state’s diverse land uses, geographies, and impairments.

A direct response to the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee’s Comprehensive Evaluation of System Response (CESR) report, the pilot projects will address multiple restoration and conservation benefits, including water quality, increased public access, wildlife habitat, fisheries improvement, environmental justice and climate resiliency. Selected projects will be overseen by a State Management Team, made up of agency experts, to help find efficiencies in project permitting and funding, and to measure project results.

A request for proposals will be issued no later than October 1, 2024.

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WATERSHED SELECTION CRITERIA​

Image: Maryland 8-digit watersheds: Interactive map link

The purpose of the Whole Watershed Restoration Partnership is to accelerate restoration of the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays and their watersheds by equitably focusing assistance on actions and areas that are:

1. cost–effective;
2. likely to demonstrate a rapid systemic response to restoration activity, including rapid de–listing of impaired streams identified under § 303(d) of the federal clean water act; and
3. supported by the local community government

The watershed criteria and resources provided are intended to aid local governments and project sponsors to assess their 8-digit watersheds (“project”) for the best fit suite of best management practices (“actions”) to propose to the State Management Team. The State Management Team and technical review panel will be responsible for selecting up to 5 candidate watersheds, with a goal to select:

1. One predominantly urban area
2. One predominantly suburban area
3. Two reducing runoff in a predominantly agricultural area
4. One with a collaborative effort with an adjoining state

At least Two (2) of the above Five (5) watersheds / projects must be located within and provide benefit to overburdened or underserved communities.

Watershed Criteria

The State Management Team will evaluate proposals based on whether the project:

1. is located in a watershed in which habitat restoration and pollution reduction will:
1. result in the greatest improvements to shallow water habitat and living resources;
2. achieve rapid de–listing of impaired streams identified under § 303(d) of the federal clean water act and published in the Department of the Environment’s triennial review of water quality standards; or
3. generate rapidly–improving conditions in the local ecosystem;
2. emphasizes actions that are expected to provide the greatest, most cost–effective, and measurable amount of pollution reduction;
3. supports land use policies, conservation programs, and restoration protocols at the local level that will sustain project actions and outcomes;
4. has documented interest from a group of affected property owners to allow restoration or conservation actions on their property;
5. minimizes the loss of trees and other natural habitats;
6. demonstrates opportunities to implement actions that reduce environmental disparities experienced by overburdened or underserved communities;
7. demonstrates opportunities to foster innovation in restoration science or practices;
8. in addition to land–based habitat restoration and water quality improvement, anticipates at least five benefits related to:
1. the creation or restoration of wildlife habitat, riparian buffers, and wetland restoration;
2. the restoration of aquatic resources, such as fresh water mussels, fish passage, or oyster reefs;
3. carbon sequestration;
4. climate change mitigation, adaptation, or resilience;
5. local employment opportunities;
6. improving and protecting public health; and
7. recreational opportunities and public access to waterways and natural habitats; and
9. creates partnership opportunities among nonprofit and for profit organizations, community organizations, all levels of government, and scientists.

Resources

• Maryland 8-digit Watersheds - All proposed actions must occur within one 8-digit watershed.
• Achieve Delist/Rapid Response for the local ecosystem -
• Surface water quality assessment (IR) and TMDL GIS Tool (MDE) - Potential applicants are encouraged to consider the pollutants of concern to tailor their actions appropriately.
• Existing Restoration - Bundling Opportunity. Are there opportunities to implement additional upland restoration to protect downstream resources? Some resources to consult include, but are not limited to
• Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund Mapper (DNR)
• Stormwater Print (MDE)
• Local Government Support - Project sponsors are required to provide protection measures that ensure the benefits and improvements resulting from the actions are maintained. This could be accomplished through comprehensive planning, easements, guaranteed operation and maintenance, adaptive management plans or other mechanisms.
• Improve Living Resources and Shallow Water Habitat - Through restoration, protection and conservation, project actions should provide benefits to improve living resources and shallow water habitat. Maryland’s Coastal Atlas has multiple data layers and tools that can identify areas for implementation. Examples include, but are not limited to:
• Targeted Ecological Areas: Targeted Ecological Areas (TEAs) are lands and watersheds of high ecological value that have been identified as conservation priorities by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for natural resource protection. These areas represent the most ecologically valuable areas in the State: they are the "best of the best".
• Habitat Connectivity Network​ (formally Green Infrastructure Network)​​: If you are proposing a project that could help link natural corridors or hubs, use this tool to find out if the proposed project area is adjacent to valuable natural areas.
• Current Oyster Sanctuaries: If you are proposing an oyster restoration, it could be helpful to use this map to see if there is an Oyster Sanctuary nearby to encourage natural spat set or to enhance the benefits associated with the existing oyster population and reef community.
• Stronghold watersheds: Tree planting efforts within these watersheds would help to fortify strongholds.
• Wetland adaptation areas or Uplands to wetlands, as shown on Maryland’s Coastal Atlas to support the migration and survival of wetlands as sea level rises.
• Reduce Environmental Disparities Experienced by Overburdened or Underserved Communities
• Maryland’s Environmental Justice Screening Tool: Provides users with data to inform their decisions on siting, permitting, enforcement, and infrastructure improvements. The demographic and socioeconomic data, coupled with MDE-specific elements such as proximity to active high air emission facilities, or wastewater treatment facilities, will be used to help underserved and overburdened communities in Maryland.