ANNAPOLIS — Governor Wes Moore announced Friday that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is providing $13.5 million in Waterway Improvement Funds. The funds will support new and improved public boating access facilities, dredging of navigable public waterways, emergency vessels and equipment for local first responders, and other important infrastructure and initiatives.

“Investing in infrastructure is integral to achieving the full potential of Maryland’s resources,” said Gov. Moore. “This partnership between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and our local jurisdictions is critical to improving, maintaining, and promoting use of our public waterways.”

The Waterway Improvement Fund is primarily derived from the one-time 5% excise tax when a boat is purchased and titled in the state, as well as a small portion of the state gas tax. It has been used to construct and maintain more than 400 public boating facilities and more than 250 public navigational channels across the state as well as the acquisition of vessels. 

“Maryland’s Waterway Improvement Fund is an outstanding example of a user-pay, user-benefit program,” said Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. “Paid largely by Maryland’s boating public, supporting local efforts are critical to this partnership.” 

Applications are reviewed and projects are selected based on local government and state needs and priorities, which are evaluated to determine the benefit to the general motor boating public. 

Starting after July 15, the Department of Natural Resources will accept Waterway Improvement Fund applications for the next fiscal year through the department’s online ​Grants Gateway.

Eastern Shore projects include:

• Caroline County: $500,000
  Choptank Marina, Preston
  Basin dredging
• Cecil County: $394,360
  Beck’s Landing, Chesapeake City
  Re-decking promenade

Water Street Boat Ramp and Fire Pier, Charlestown
Dredging

• Dorchester County: $430,000
  City of Cambridge Municipal Marina
  Wave screen

Tylers Cove, Church Creek
Renovation 

• Kent County: $796,800
  Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company
  Rescue vessel

Chestertown Marina
Dredging

Betterton Public Landing
Preliminary engineering

• Queen Anne's County: $387,000
  United Communities Volunteer Fire Department, Stevensville
  Fire Boat Motor Replacement

Thompson Creek Landing, Stevensville
Bulkhead Replacement

Little Creek Landing, Chester
Drainage and parking lot improvements

• Somerset County: $212,000
  City of Crisfield Depot
  Replacement of piers and walkways

Somerset County (countywide)
Marina facility safety improvements

Tylerton Harbor, Smith Island
Breakwater 

• Talbot County: $160,000
  Windy Hill Landing, Bruceville
  Landing Reconstruction

Easton Point Park
Engineering for Dredging

• Wicomico County: $480,603
  City of Salisbury Fire Department
  New outboard boat motor

Cedar Hill Marina, Bivalve
Bulkhead restoration

Pirates Wharf Park, Quantico
Boating Facility Construction

• Worcester County: $2,029,177
  Pocomoke City Volunteer Fire Company
  Rescue boat safety equipment

Pocomoke City Boat Ramp
Boating access improvements, engineering services 

Public Landing, Wharf Road, Snow Hill
Retaining wall and rip rap construction

George Island Landing Road, Stockton
Boat Landing Engineering Services 

Pocomoke River State Park Shad Landing Marina and Boat Ramp
Marina and boat ramp replacement

Pocomoke River State Park Milburn Landing Boat Ramp
Ramp replacement