Dr. MiltieAtlas by Dr. Miltie™Nationwide Grant Intelligence
OPEN — FY2027 Chesapeake Bay Trust Anne Arundel County Watershed Restoration and Forestry Grants; RFP released October 28, 2026; applications due February 26, 2027 at 4:00 p.m. ET.
MD-CBT-AAWRF-FY2027MarylandChesapeake Bay TrustGovernmental EntityNonprofit OrganizationCommunity Resilience & Disaster PreparednessWater Quality & Watershed Protection

Maryland — Anne Arundel County FY2027 Watershed Restoration and Forestry Grants (February 26, 2027)

FundingFY2027 individual request maximums vary by track: watershed planning (Annapolis) up to $75,000; watershed design up to $150,000; watershed restoration up to $315,000; forestry and combined restoration/forestry no universal applicant cap published (restoration component of combined track up to $315,000). Separate total funding pools: $1,336,350 County restoration, $382,500 Annapolis restoration, $600,000 County forestry, $45,000 Annapolis forestry; pools are NOT individual award limits.
DeadlineMandatory pre-application site visit by February 12, 2027; applications due Friday, February 26, 2027, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Last verified2026-11-05
Required next actionChoose eligible track and project site in Anne Arundel County or City of Annapolis; contact Chesapeake Bay Trust to arrange the mandatory pre-application site visit by February 12, 2027. Review all 30 pages of the FY27 RFP, track-specific eligibility and narrative questions, map/location information, landowner Letters of Commitment, project budget and maintenance/protection requirements. Apply through the Bay Trust Awards Portal linked from https://cbtrust.org/grants/anne-arundel-county-watershed-restoration-and-forestry/ by February 26, 2027 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Broad Eligibility

Project location must be Anne Arundel County, Maryland, including Annapolis. Eligible applicants vary by track and may include qualifying watershed and nonprofit community groups, HOAs, land trusts, faith-based and civic groups, public agencies and higher education institutions. Tracks 1, 2, 3 and 6 require certified 501(c) nonprofit applicant except Annapolis homeowner/community associations, plus an Anne Arundel-based stakeholder partner. Track 1 is Annapolis only. Landowner permissions and a required pre-application site visit apply; ordinary procurement vendors are not grant applicants.

Atlas Analysis

November 5, 2026: Verified against controlling 30-page Chesapeake Bay Trust FY27 RFP dated October 28, 2026 plus currently OPEN official program webpage. Distinct applicant-facing grant, not procurement. Six tracks; planning $75k (Annapolis only), design $150k, watershed restoration $315k. Forestry and combined tracks have no general individual request caps, though combined restoration portion <=$315k. Four separate FY27 funding pools of $1,336,350, $382,500, $600,000 and $45,000 MUST NOT be called individual awards. Matching encouraged, not required. Voluntary projects only; mandatory site visit by Feb 12, 2027; full application due Feb 26 at 4 PM ET. Project term normally within 2 years; 10% final payment holdback; land access/long-term protections. Site applicant portal requires organization-specific quiz; official RFP's public checklist and narrative conditions independently reviewed. Controlling RFP: https://cbtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/AAWRF_FY27_RFP_10.28.26.pdf.

FY2027 applicant grants for Anne Arundel County and Annapolis

The Chesapeake Bay Trust, Anne Arundel County, and the City of Annapolis have opened the FY2027 Watershed Restoration and Forestry Grant Program. This is competitive financial assistance for eligible local watershed planning, stormwater restoration, reforestation, and permanent forest protection projects, not a government purchasing contract. The controlling 30-page FY27 Request for Proposals was released October 28, 2026.

Individual request amounts by track

  • Track 1, Watershed Planning: up to $75,000, for City of Annapolis projects only.
  • Track 2, Watershed Design: up to $150,000 for eligible County or City projects.
  • Track 3, Watershed Restoration Implementation: up to $315,000.
  • Track 4, Permanent Protection of Forested Lands: no fixed individual request cap published; requests must be justified against available funding.
  • Track 5, Afforestation or Reforestation: no fixed individual request cap published; requests must be justified against available funding.
  • Track 6, Combined Watershed Restoration and Forestry: no fixed overall individual request cap published, but the watershed restoration portion may request up to $315,000.

The funders anticipate $1,336,350 for County watershed restoration, $382,500 for Annapolis watershed restoration, $600,000 for County forestry and land protection, and $45,000 for Annapolis forestry and land protection. These are program funding pools, not individual applicant awards. The RFP calls for discussing exceptional requests above general funding levels with Trust staff before submitting.

Applicant and project eligibility

Projects must take place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, including the City of Annapolis. Potential applicants include eligible nonprofit watershed groups, community and homeowners associations, youth and civic groups, faith-based organizations, land trusts, public agencies, and higher education institutions. Tracks 1, 2, 3 and 6 have additional rules: they require a certified 501(c) nonprofit applicant except eligible Annapolis homeowners/community associations, and an Anne Arundel-based stakeholder partner. Other track-specific land-ownership and conservation obligations apply. Proposals for work required by an existing regulatory permit or mitigation obligation are ineligible. Property-owner authorization and long-term maintenance or protection commitments may be required.

Match, expenses and award conditions

Matching cash or in-kind resources are encouraged but not mandatory. Applicants must supply a reasonable itemized budget with cost justification, describe project deliverables, necessary permits and long-term maintenance, and ensure that proposed work satisfies the relevant track. Projects generally must be completed within two years of award. Selected grantees receive initial payment after grant conditions are met; the funder withholds 10% until approval of the final report. Forest planting may require a 30-year protection agreement or permanent conservation easement. Read the full RFP for additional limits on land rights, restoration projects, reimbursement and supporting documentation.

Mandatory site visit and application deadline

All applicants must conduct a pre-application site visit with Chesapeake Bay Trust by February 12, 2027. The complete application deadline is Friday, February 26, 2027, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Apply through the existing Chesapeake Bay Trust Awards Portal, choosing the appropriate track and supplying the track-specific narrative, project information, proposed budget, partnership commitments and relevant landowner letters. The portal requires separate Executive Officer and Project Leader contacts; the Project Leader’s login email must match the application record. For Trust assistance, contact the official program administrators before the deadline.

Official 2027 program and application portal: Chesapeake Bay Trust program page. Controlling application instructions: October 28, 2026 FY27 Request for Proposals (PDF). Last researched against official sources November 5, 2026.

Source verificationReferenced source · cbtrust.orgAtlas last verified this record 2026-11-05. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗