The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration and the South Baltimore Gateway Partnership announced on March 19 a 15-year Master Memorandum of Understanding to advance nature-based resiliency projects in the Baltimore Harbor Watershed.
Through this partnership, the two organizations will work together to identify, design, fund, and implement projects aimed at managing stormwater runoff, improving water quality, and strengthening climate resilience in and around South Baltimore communities. The agreement supports the State Highway Administration’s commitment to investments that reduce polluted runoff and promote the health of the Chesapeake Bay and local waterways.
The collaboration also aligns with the South Baltimore Gateway Partnership’s Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative. This initiative focuses on restoring damaged ecosystems, improving water quality, expanding public recreation and active transportation opportunities, and reducing coastal hazards such as flooding, erosion, storm surge, and sea level rise. The Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative serves as the shoreline restoration component of Reimagine Middle Branch—a community-driven effort led by SBGP in partnership with Baltimore City and the Parks and People Foundation—to reconnect South Baltimore communities with their shorelines.
“These collaborative, nature-based solutions help advance Maryland’s environmental goals while delivering meaningful benefits to local communities,” said Kevin P. Wilsey, Director of SHA’s Office of Environmental Design. “This partnership maximizes public investment and supports long-term resiliency in the Baltimore Harbor Watershed.”
“The Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative is about restoring the harbor in ways that benefit both people and nature,” said Samantha Rose, Restoration Director at SBGP. “Through partnerships like this with SHA, we can advance projects that improve water quality, restore our shorelines and create more resilient and welcoming waterfront spaces for South Baltimore communities.”
For additional information about these initiatives or ongoing projects from SHA, visit their Office of Environmental Design webpage or consult major project listings as listed on the official roster page.
