The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has awarded $2.1 million to several agencies, including Assateague State Park and the Town of Ocean City, through its Waterways Improvement Fund.
The Old Ferry Landing Area boat ramp is pictured at Assateague State Park.
Photo courtesy U.S. National Park Service
By Bethany Hooper, Associate Editor
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has awarded $2.1 million to several local agencies through its Waterways Improvement Fund.
Last Wednesday, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced it would provide $21.5 million in Waterway Improvement Fund allocations to communities and projects throughout Maryland in fiscal year 2025, which began July 1. Five of the recipients will use those funds for improvements in Worcester County.
“Our waterways are a major component of Maryland’s economic success and cultural identity, and keeping them accessible, safe, and navigable are key priorities,” Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Josh Kurtz said. “The Waterway Improvement Fund, funded by Maryland’s boating public and distributed in close partnership with our waterfront communities, has been a critical component in supporting these activities for decades.”
The agency reports 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.
In Worcester County, Assateague State Park received $125,000 to make boat ramp repairs and comfort station renovations, the Town of Ocean City received $150,000 for Little Salisbury Park channel dredging, and the Natural Resources Police Area 1 Marine Facility received $500,000 for a bulkhead replacement. In Stockton, the volunteer fire department received $80,000 for a new rescue vessel. And at the south end, Pocomoke River State Park received $125,000 for a boat ramp replacement at Milburn Landing and $1.2 million for marina, boat ramp and service building renovations at Shad Landing.
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, the Department of Natural Resources reports. Fiscal 2025 applications totaled more than $80 million in Waterway Improvement Fund requests.
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.