WATERSHED RESTORATION & PROTECTION PROGRAM
The Watershed Restoration Program is under the University of Maryland Extension's Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), delivering research-based education and technical assistance to help individuals, communities, and organizations conserve and responsibly manage Maryland's natural resources.
Calvert County is one of the southernmost counties in Maryland and is bordered on three sides by the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. All land in the county lies within a mile of these waters, and every use impacts the Watershed.
The Calvert County Watershed Restoration Program helps residents improve water quality through stormwater management and watershed restoration techniques. Watershed Restoration Specialists work with local and state governments, watershed organizations, and community groups in Maryland to build partnerships, identify funding sources, and advise/assist in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of restoration projects.
Specialists facilitate measurable reductions in water pollution in the following ways:
- Classes and workshops teach homeowners how to improve water quality in their own backyard with practices like rain barrels, rain gardens, and tree planting.
- Technical Assistance Programs help communities address Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) regulations and requirements.
- Watershed Restoration Projects emerge from collaborative partnerships and effective funding techniques to reduce nutrient and sediment loads.
- Watershed Restoration Specialists also connect watershed science to policymakers and community leaders to make the most effective water quality decisions.
