Watershed and Climate Services Grants

Watershed and Climate Services Grants is sponsored by Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Offers funding for projects that improve water quality, restore local waterways, and increase community resilience to climate impacts.

Accessibility Information FY2028 Request for Solicitation OPENS on July 15, 2026 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Watershed & Climate Services (WCS) is committed to providing technical and financial assistance to Maryland’s communities that are challenged by intense storms, changing sea levels and increasing flooding, while balancing growing populations, economic growth, and increased tourism and recreation.

These trends make the already challenging task of restoring the Chesapeake Bay, safeguarding people and infrastructure and managing natural resources even more complex. Grants Gateway provides a resource for partners seeking technical and financial support for projects that foster healthy and resilient ecosystems, communities, and economies.

Grants Gateway provides a centralized hub to streamline the grant application process for governments, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations. Eligible projects across six programs will improve water quality, restore local waterways, increase community flood planning, develop the next generation of environmental stewards, improve shorelines, and plan for beneficial reuse.

Important Notice for Applicants: Waterway Improvement Fund (WIF) is no longer accepting applications through the Grants Gateway solicitation. For more information on WIF, please visit the “ Grants managed by the Engineering & Construction Services Boating Access & Capital Waterway Improvement Program " website: https://dnr. maryland.

gov/boating/pages/grants. aspx . Solicitation Issue Date: July 15, 2026 Grants Gateway Webinar: August 20, 2026 (2pm) EST Pay for Performance Webinar: September 2, 2026 (10am) EST Technical Assistance/Site Visits (as requested): through November 15, 2026 Beneficial Use Applications due: September 18, 2026 by 11:59 p.

m. EST All Other Applications due: December 11, 2026 by 11:59 p. m.

EST Shoreline Erosion Loan Applications due: through December 11, 2026* by 11:59 p. m. EST *will be accepted on a rolling basis Technical Review and Project Evaluation: January 2027 – May 2027 Applicant Notification of Award: June 2027 – July 2027 Project Funding Begins: July 1, 2027 – October 1, 2027 Selecting Your Funding Program: It is important to choose the funding program that most closely relates to the goals of your project.

Please reach out to the funding leads if your proposal crosswalks more than one opportunity. In certain situations, a proposal may be awarded funding through a different funding program from what the applicant originally selected. If this is the case, you will be notified of the funding program and any changes that are needed.

For more detailed information on each program please review the Individual Funding Program section of the solicitation and review their individual websites below. The funding programs are as follows: Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund (Outcome 1) Accelerate recovery and restoration of natural resources by implementing non-point source pollution reduction projects.

Community Flood Planning (Outcome 2) Reduce current and future coastal and precipitation-based flood risks through proactive planning Resilience through Restoration (Outcome 3) Design habitat restoration projects to address erosion and flooding in communities and on public lands.

Environmental Education and Stewardship (Outcome 4) ​Improve student and community ability to take action benefiting watersheds and ecosystems through professional and community development and training, curriculum expansion, outdoor learning and stewardship. Beneficial Use (Outcome 5) Assessment, planning, and design for projects that treat dredged sediment as a resource.

Shoreline Erosion Loan Program Protect waterfront property and enhance wildlife habitat utilizing nature-based living shoreline techniques. Click on imag​e below to review the solicitation and all submission guidelines and requirements. Submitting your Application: Applications CANNOT be mailed, faxed or submitted in person.

Application questions can be reviewed and printed for planning purposes. They can be found in the ‘Useful Resources for Applicants’ section below. All funding programs, except the Shoreline Erosion Loan program: Must be submitted through the web-based grants management portal: https://webportalapp.

com/sp/grants_gateway . Please store your username and password in a secure location for later reference. If your project is selected your username and password will be used to submit online reports.

After creating your profile, use the “Get Started” button on the Home page to begin your application. There are three phases to complete your Application: Common Application: general details about your proposal Project Details: site and task specific details Budget: funding requested and leveraged/match fund details.

Note: you will be asked to download a budget template for the appropriate funding program you are applying for that you are required to complete and upload. The template includes space for notes to explain or justify line items in your budget. There is no match or leveraged funds required; however, demonstrating matched and leveraged funds may help in the competitiveness of your proposal.

Fill out the appropriate information and follow the instructions for each subsequent step in the process. There is no additional narrative requirement for the application outside of the form-based responses. Please direct any questions about your applications to the appropriate funding program contact.

All submissions require a transmittal letter on official letterhead that is signed by an executive who is authorized to request funding on behalf of the applicant organization. Note: If you are selecting the funding program “Beneficial Use [BU] (Outcome 5)”, please select the dropdown listed as “#5-Foster sustainable development and use of Maryland waterways with projects that benefit the general boating public."

This is legacy text from the Waterway Improvement Fund. Shoreline Erosion Loan Program: Must be submitted through Shoreline Erosion Control Loan Request Google Form . Each funding program identifies eligible applicants.

Please read these criteria carefully. Applicants will not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, marital status, national origin or ancestry in the use of any funding acquired pursuant to this application. Non-profit organizations must be registered, in compliance and in good standing with the Maryland Secretary of State.

Useful Resources for Applicants Landowner Agreement Template HOA/Community Project Authorization Fillable Communication & Engagement Strategy Method to Model Wet Pond Retrofits in CAST Co-benefit and Targeting Map Guidance Maryland Biological Stream Survey Pre-Restoration Sampling Budget Template for Outcome 1 Budget Template for Outcomes 2 and 4 Budget Template for Outcome 3 Guidance for Using Maryland's 2023 Sea Level Rise Projections Sea Level Rise Guidance Worksheet for Selecting a RSLR Estimate Common Application Questions: Outcome 1 Common Application Questions Outcome 2 Common Application Questions Outcome 3 Common Application Questions Shore Erosion Loan Common Application Questions Register for Upcoming Webinars Introduction to Grants Gateway 2026: August 20, 2026, 2:00pm EST Pay-for-Performance Webinar: September 2, 2026 10:00am EST How to Use FieldDoc in your Grants Gateway Application: November 9, 2026 1:00pm EST 2025 Introduction to Grants Gateway We're available on the following channels.

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