ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Rural Legacy Program is celebrating 25 years of conservation success, preserving over 125,000 acres of land in Maryland. The program was created to encourage local governments and land trusts to work together to protect ecologically valuable properties, farms, and forests. The Maryland General Assembly approved the program in 1997, and it’s credited with saving taxpayers $405 million. The […]
BALTIMORE, MD—A total of $21.5 million will be allocated to improve public boating access, dredging of navigable waterways, and safety for the next fiscal year, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. In Baltimore County, Gunpowder Falls State Park is set to receive nearly $2.5 million. The funding comes from a variety of sources including a 5% excise tax […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced that it will award a $10 million grant for the construction of a new oyster sanctuary in the Chesapeake Bay. The funding will help establish a sustainable future for the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster population, which is critical to the health of the bay’s ecosystems and economy. The new reef will […]
BALTIMORE, MD—A total of 34 ecological restoration projects across Maryland will receive $35.8 million in grants from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced. The grants, awarded for fiscal year 2025, are expected to remove 63,000 pounds of nitrogen, 10,000 pounds of phosphorus and nearly 14,000 tons of sediment from local […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) released its annual report card this week with the overall Chesapeake Bay earning a grade of C+ (55%), the highest grade since 2002. The 2023/2024 Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card is the 17th annual ecosystem report card. Overall, the health of the Chesapeake Bay is improving slightly, with 11 […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced that $14.8 million will be granted to local governments as well as land trusts to be used for the preservation of outdoor spaces. The funds were was approved by the Board of Public Works on Wednesday. The funding will be used for a variety of projects including the development of trails […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Environmental Trust has approved 18 grants totaling $236,276 to be awarded for environmental education, community cleanup, and beautification projects through the Keep Maryland Beautiful program. Grants through the Keep Maryland Beautiful program are awarded to volunteer-based and nonprofit groups, communities, schools, and land trusts in Maryland. The grants are designed to support environmental education projects, litter removal, […]
BALTIMORE, MD—To celebrate Global Day of Unplugging, First Lady Dawn Moore visited Patapsco Valley State Park in Halethorpe over the weekend to highlight the benefits that nature has to offer children’s mental health. Global Day of Unplugging is a 24-hour digital detox that takes place from March 1 to 2. This year’s theme is “unplug and live.” The First Lady […]