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$200 raised by 1 donor
4% complete
$5,000 Goal
The Maryland Coastal Bays are among the most ecologically important—and fragile—ecosystems on the East Coast. Every day, the Maryland Coastal Bays Program works to protect and restore these waters and the wildlife and communities that depend on them.
But we can’t do it alone.
Your support helps meet critical needs that keep our bays healthy, our wildlife thriving, and our community connected to the water we love.
The Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) is one of 28 National Estuary Programs (NEP) across the country that receives EPA funding in order to work toward the restoration and protection of “estuaries of National significance.” The Program is a grassroot, multi-stakeholder collaboration working toward meeting this goal. The Maryland Coastal Bays watershed is an impressive coastal resource; it supports abundant wildlife and a wealth of aquatic resources in a relaxing rural atmosphere unique to the mid-Atlantic region. Here, residents and tourists alike enjoy fishing, hunting, boating, sunbathing, and the natural serenity offered by the sea. As one of the most ecologically diverse regions in the state, the collective watershed of these bays encompasses approximately 175 square miles of Maryland’s coastal plain. It supports numerous rare and threatened plant and animal species, forests, and wetlands vital to migratory songbirds and waterfowl, as well as numerous important commercial and recreational fin and shellfish species.
The Maryland Coastal Bays Foundation is the incorporated portion of MCBP. The corporation is a private, non-profit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland exclusively for charitable, educational, scientific, and conservation purposes including assisting MCBP in the development and implementation of a Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan for Maryland’s Coastal Bays, conservation and educational activities, and further including—for such purposes—making distributions for the benefit or purposes of the MCBP. The foundation exists to protect and conserve the waters and surrounding watershed of Maryland’s Coastal Bays to enhance their ecological values and sustainable use for both present and future generations.
Your support helps meet critical needs that keep our bays healthy, our wildlife thriving, and our community connected to the water we love.
Every dollar helps sustain our mission to protect and restore the Maryland Coastal Bays and the life they support. Whether you give $25, $250, or more, your contribution directly supports cleaner water, healthier habitats, and a brighter future for our coastal community.
💧 What Your Support Makes Possible
1. Restoring Our Bays and Watersheds
Your donation funds hands-on restoration projects—planting native grasses, rebuilding oyster reefs, and stabilizing eroding shorelines. These efforts protect habitat, improve water quality, and make our coastal ecosystem more resilient to storms and sea-level rise.
2. Monitoring the Health of the Bays
We rely on scientific monitoring to guide our decisions. Contributions help us maintain and replace water quality equipment, boats, and safety gear—vital tools that allow our scientists and volunteers to track changes in the bays year after year.
3. Inspiring the Next Generation
Education is at the heart of what we do. Your gift helps us connect thousands of students with the bay through field trips, summer camps, and classroom lessons that turn curiosity into stewardship.
4. Empowering Volunteers and Community Partners
From marsh cleanups to citizen science, volunteers are the backbone of our success. Funding supports training, supplies, and outreach that help residents take action to protect the places they love.
5. Strengthening Our Capacity to Protect What Matters
Like the ecosystems we care for, our organization needs a strong foundation to thrive. Support for staff, research, technology, and communications ensures we can respond quickly to environmental challenges and share our story with the public.
Organization name
Maryland Coastal Bays Foundation Inc
other names
Maryland Coastal Bays Program
Tax id (EIN)
52-2123356
Impact/Cause Area
Environment
Organization Location
Worcester
Counties Served
Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset
Address
8219 STEPHEN DECATUR HIGHWAY 4