Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will provide $20 million in Waterway Improvement Fund allocations to communities and projects throughout Maryland in Fiscal Year 2026, which begins July 1.
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.
“Keeping Maryland’s waterways accessible, safe, and navigable is a priority for our maritime state,” said Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. “And it’s a team effort, requiring the remarkable cooperative management of local, state, and federal infrastructure and resources. DNR is proud to administer the Waterway Improvement Fund, an essential program funded by Maryland’s boating public and distributed in close partnership with our waterfront communities.”
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, 250 public navigational channels, and to acquire vessels.
Applications are reviewed and projects are selected based on local government and state priorities, which are evaluated to determine the benefit to the general boating public. Fiscal Year 2026 applications totaled more than $42.8 million in Waterway Improvement Fund requests.
Beginning 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.
Projects funded in FY26 include:
Anne Arundel County:
Upper West River and Johns Creek, dredging – $530,000
Annapolis Fire Department, fire and rescue vessel and equipment – $32,250
Reconfiguring of St Mary’s Creek mooring field in Spa Creek, Annapolis – $250,000
Charles County:
New engines for two Cobb Island Volunteer Fire Department fire and rescue vessels – $40,000
Sweden Point Marina improvements – $1 million
Prince George’s County:
Piscataway Creek dredging – $200,000
St. Mary’s County:
Wicomico Shores boating pier improvements – $199,000
Point Lookout State Park Marina improvements – $1 million
Forest Landing Boating facility repairs – $50,000
Statewide (Funds used by DNR for the benefit of all waterway users):
Clean Vessel Act – Pumpout Program Equipment – $213,785
DNR vessel for surveying, monitoring, buoy maintenance and deployment, and storm response – $400,000
Matching funds required for statewide federal boating grant program – $300,000
Statewide emergency and maintenance dredging needs – $1.66 million
Design and construction of eligible shore erosion control projects – $500,000
