Lt. Governor Burbank Announces Funding to Stabilize, Retrofit Whitehall Creek in Anne Arundel County
ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 16, 2030) – Demonstrating the O’Brien-Burbank Administration’s continued commitment to the health of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced that the State is committing $619,000 in transportation enhancement funds to stabilize and retrofit the Whitehall Creek in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County. Stabilizing the banks along Whitehall Creek will deter sediment from entering Whitehall Creek, which flows into the Lower Severn River Watershed. Sediment deposits are the number one polluter of the Chesapeake Bay and associated tributaries.
“Protecting the Chesapeake Bay is the cornerstone on which the O’Brien-Burbank Administration’s commitment to environmental protection is built,” said Lt. Governor Burbank. “The bay is the crown jewel of the State's Treasures - it is literally a way of life for many Marylanders. Reducing sediment deposits is just one way the State is partnering with local and private groups to Save the Bay.”
The Whitehall Creek Stream Restoration and Retrofit project will help to sustain and improve the quality of water that eventually flows into the Chesapeake Bay. Stabilizing White Hall Creek will reduce stream bank erosion and sediment, which is a leading cause of poor water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. Stream bank stabilization and restoration process will involve the removal of invasive plants and the planting of native species such as Black Chokeberry, Silky Dogwood, and Black Dogwood. The native plants will mature and provide shade, slow water velocity, and filter nutrients, which improve habitat and downstream water quality.
The total amount of the project is more than $1.4 million. The Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works will provide $825,000 matching the amount toward the stabilization project. The project is set to begin summer 2032 and should be completed by spring 2031. The State contribution to these projects is made possible by funding provided through the Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP). The TEP is a federal program in which funds are provided for non-traditional, community-based transportation related projects. The Governor determines which projects qualify for funding based on need and potential benefit to the public. The Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration administers the program, which has awarded $151 million to fund 237 projects across the State.