The SEVERN Whole Watershed Partnership
Background
The Severn River, a 14-mile tidal estuary in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, is a critical tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. Its 81-square-mile watershed supports diverse aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems but faces challenges due to urban development and environmental degradation.
What is the SEVERN Whole Watershed Partnership?
The Severn Engagement and Vital Ecosystem Restoration Network (The SEVERN) adopts a whole watershed approach that integrates innovative, nature-based restoration and conservation practices with robust, targeted community outreach and engagement. The SEVERN emphasizes the restoration of shallow water habitats, wetlands, and shorelines to enhance ecosystem resilience, support productive fisheries, and improve habitat for key species.
By aligning efforts with the recommendations of leading Chesapeake Bay scientists, The SEVERN demonstrates scalable, science-based solutions to regional ecological challenges. Through dynamic partnerships among local citizens, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and watershed groups, The SEVERN exemplifies the collaborative spirit envisioned in the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Agreement and Maryland’s Whole Watershed Act. This approach not only strengthens the Severn River’s ecosystem but also fosters community resilience to climate hazards, setting a precedent for localized, impactful Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts.
The SEVERN’s strength lies in the collective commitment of its partner organizations to a comprehensive, whole-watershed approach. With unparalleled community involvement, no watershed is more engaged than the Severn River, which serves as a unifying artery for the region. By restoring nature and improving the quality of life across its watershed, the SEVERN demonstrates that people and nature can coexist
harmoniously.
The SEVERN has taken a whole watershed approach by assessing opportunities for restoration and protection from the land to non-tidal freshwater to tidal-freshwater to the estuarine water column of the Severn (and its numerous tributary creeks) using the Chesapeake Bay Program STAC’s Comprehensive Evaluation of System Response (CESR) report as a guide.
SEVERN Project Partnership will track and report data on impacts of proposed actions for both water quality
benefits, cost-effectiveness, and co-benefits in coordination with the State Management Team
Year One Projects (SFY26)
- Key Point Giant Stormwater Management (Severn River Association)
- Wardour Stormwater Management (Severn River Association)
- Merryman Stream Restoration (City of Annapolis)
- Brewer’s Hill Cemetery Step Pool Conveyance (City of Annapolis)
- Rideout Creek Roadside Gully Prevention (Severn Riverkeeper)
- Operation Build-a-Reef Oyster Restoration (Oyster Recovery Partnership)
- Truxton Cove Stormwater Management (Spa Creek Conservancy)
- Watershed Planning & Design
- Tree Ambassador Program (Watershed Stewards Academy)
- Mulberry Hill Trail and Bridge Design (Breaking Boundaries Environmental)
- Jabez Protective Overlay (Center for Ecosystem Recovery)
- Design Support (Full Partnership)
Project Site Map
Year One (SFY26) project sites.