Maryland Department of Natural Resources

​​​​Recent News

Pocomoke River Restoration Project: Enhancing resiliency to climate variability and flooding

Pocomoke River Flooding 

The Pocomoke River Restoration project is a partnership between the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Read more...


CCS Restoration Reports

Visit the Trust Fund Tracker to learn about restoration projects funded through the Trust Fund.


Check us out on Flickr
Visit our Flickr page to view restoration project photos.


Contact Information
Chesapeake & Coastal Service
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Tawes State Office Building, E2
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapoli​s, Maryland 21401
Phone 410-260-8732
Fax 410-260-8739
customerservice.dnr@maryland.gov

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Habitat Restoration and Conservation

The Chesapeake & Coastal Service provides the science and technical services that State and local partners need in order to meet their water quality and habitat restoration goals. CCS works with federal, state and local governments, conservation groups and private citizens to apply innovative best management practices that reduce harmful run-off from entering the State’s waters.

The goals of our habitat conservation and restoration efforts are to:

  • Improve tidal shoreline habitat and protect shorelines using innovative restoration techniques
  • Restore degraded wetlands and protect existing ones
  • Establish riparian buffers along the State’s waterways
  • Assist in reforestation of fallow and degraded fields
  • Stabilize and restore stream corridors
  • Identify and implement stormwater practices on state lands
  • Engage communities in on-the-ground restoration

What We Do

Living Shorelines

Living shorelines are the result of applying erosion control measures that include a suite of techniques which can be used to minimize coastal erosion and maintain coastal process. Living Shorelines can be very effective and can be implemented on virtually any shoreline property. Assistance is provided by CCS’s Shoreline Conservation Service staff through site visits and evaluations, problem assessments and recommended solutions. For more information contact Wesley Gould ​(wesley. gould@maryland.gov) (410) 260-8812 or request a site visit by clicking here.

Shoreline Conservation Service

Provides technical and financial assistance to Maryland property owners in resolving shoreline and stream bank erosion problems. Assistance is provided through site visits and evaluations, problem assessments and recommended solutions. For more information contact Wesley Gould​ (wesley.gould@maryland.gov) or (410) 260-8812​​.

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Community Restoration Program

Works to strengthen public outreach and engagement in on-the-ground restoration as well as increase locally led restoration projects. Staff provides assistance to local governments, watershed groups and community organizations in aligning restoration efforts with the Chesapeake Bay TMDL effort and Watershed Implementation Plan goals. For more information contact Claudia Donegan at claudia.donegan@maryland.gov or (410) 260-8768.

Beneficial Use of Dredged Material

Dredged sand and sediment material is a valuable resource that can be used to beneficially enhance or restore our natural resources. Dredged material can be directly placed at restoration sites, such as a living shoreline, marsh enhancement, or island restoration, to be used as fill material. By placing material directly in these projects, fill and transportation costs are drastically reduced, and environmental benefits are provided. For more information, contact Catherine McCall at catherine.mccall@maryland.gov or 410-260-8737.