Maryland DNR announces shoreline erosion cost-share grants for Deep Creek Lake
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced the availability of shoreline erosion control cost-share grants through the Maryland Park Service Deep Creek Lake Management Office. The program provides financial assistance for eligible projects on Buffer Strip Use Permit sites.
Funding
Grants range from $5,000 to $8,000 per project, with funding available to up to 10 qualifying applicants. Selection will be based on the severity of vertical shoreline erosion, with priority given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Eligibility
Applicants must hold a valid Maryland Department of the Environment Wetlands and Waterways Protection Program Authorization to Proceed form and a Deep Creek Lake NRMA Special Permit. Completed projects must also meet the following specifications:
- One approved fish habitat structure per 50 feet of shoreline erosion control installed
- One native woody plant on the Buffer Strip per 10 feet of shoreline erosion control installed
- Stone and material sizes as specified in the MDE Waterways Obstruction Permit
- Full compliance with all conditions in both the MDE Waterways Permit and the Deep Creek Lake NRMA Special Permit
Deadlines
- March 1, 2026: All work below the High Water Mark (elevation 2,462 feet) must be complete
- April 1, 2026: All required plantings must be complete
- April 15, 2026: Application submission deadline
- May 1, 2026: Walls must be inspected and approved
- May 15, 2026: Deadline to correct any deficiencies identified during inspection
How to Apply
Submit a completed application along with copies of the required permits and the Joint Federal/State Application for the Alteration of any Floodplain, Waterway, Tidal or Non-tidal Wetland in Maryland to [email protected]. Lake Management staff will inspect the project to confirm eligibility. Applicants accepted into the program will be contacted to provide a W-9 before a funding contract is executed.
For questions, contact [email protected].