Wetlands provide important socio-economic benefits and ecosystem services such as storing and conveying flood waters, recharging groundwater, improving water quality by filtering and storing nutrients, and providing shoreline protection and critical habitat for a multitude of plant and animal species. The Maryland Department of the Environment’s Wetlands and Waterways Protection Program protects Maryland wetlands and waterways from loss and degradation. This protection is achieved through the regulation of the draining, dredging and filling of tidal and nontidal wetlands, the nontidal wetland buffer and waterways, including the nontidal 100-year floodplain through a permitting or authorization process implemented in close coordination with the federal government (specifically, the Army Corps of Engineers).
While there are some exemptions from permitting requirements for certain activities, permits or letters of authorization from the State are generally required if a property owner plans to undertake an activity that results in the draining of a wetland or the addition of fill materials to a State regulated wetland or waterway. Examples of activities which require permits from the Wetlands and Waterways Protection Program include building a new pier, adding a platform or boat lift to an existing pier, dredging a boat slip, putting in a bulkhead, filling in a nontidal wetland or buffer for the construction of a structure such as a shed or the expansion or creation of a patio or driveway, and, creating a stream crossing or putting a utility pipeline under a stream.
The Wetlands and Waterways Protection Program also provides Maryland-regulated floodplain and FEMA Floodplain information to the public. With climate change increasing precipitation, sea level rise and flooding in Maryland, protecting and restoring wetlands, waterways, and their buffers will be critical to securing a resilient future for Maryland’s citizens and ecosystems. To learn more about MDE's Water and Science Administration’s detailed climate adaptation goals and strategies please visit the
WSA Climate Change site.
Tropical Storm/Hurricane Preparedness
Guidance for Emergency Repairs for Damage Resulting from any Major Named Storm/High Tide Event (v. May 2025)
Guidance for Emergency Repairs - general (v. May 2025) - To facilitate emergency actions/repairs which impact State-regulated water resources, the Maryland Department of the Environment (“MDE” or “the Department”) highlights these established procedures for conducting emergency repairs under COMAR 26.17.04.06 (D) Construction on Nontidal Waters and Floodplains, 26.23.02.08 Nontidal Wetlands, COMAR 26.24 Tidal Wetlands, and COMAR 23.02.04.05C State Tidal Wetland Licensing Procedures.
Hurricane and Tropical Storm Preparedness tips are also available from the MDE home page.
NEWS, IMPORTANT UPDATES, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:News
The Maryland General Assembly approved updates to the fee structure established in Maryland Environment Article 5-203.1 for Wetlands and Waterways projects during the 2025 Legislative Session (House Bill 352 of 2025, beginning on page 40). Fee Schedule Update Webpage
Nontidal Wetlands and Waterways
Tidal Wetlands
Climate Change
Environmental Justice
UpdatesAnnouncements
- The Maryland General Assembly approved updates to the fee structure established in Maryland Environment Article 5-203.1 for Wetlands and Waterways projects during the 2025 Legislative Session (House Bill 352 of 2025, beginning on page 40).
- Fee Schedule Update Webpage
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Frequently Asked Questions
State Application, Forms and Related Information
Marine Contractors Licensing Board (MCLB) and other Environmental Boards information
Water Quality Certifications (WQCs)
Past Announcements
Public
Notices
Public Notice Email list SIGN-UP is now available for receiving Wetlands and Waterways twice-monthly notices.
Acers Infra LLC -Cricket Stadium Wetlands and Waterways Permit No. 25-NT-3109/202560686. The virtual public informational hearing date was August 27, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The public comment period has been extended and will remain open until 5:00 PM on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. Please use the following link to view Acers Infra LLC -Cricket Stadium project information page.
Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration, MD 143 Bike Path from Davis Ln (SO194) Adjacent to MD-413 & Davis Ln, -75.77605, 38.03610, Westover, (Somerset), MD 21838, 24-NT-2053/24-WL-850/202461252 -Plans for the proposed impacts to regulated resources.
Howard County DPW, Patuxent Branch Trail, 24-NT-3197/202461369. Notice of Permit decision. The Notice of Permit Decision and other decision documents are available on the Howard County DPW,
Patuxent Branch Trail project information page.
Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), I-95 Express Toll Lanes Northbound Extension Section 200 Phase II, Modification Request for the Nontidal Wetlands and Waterways Permit No. 19-NT-0150/201960846. The virtual public informational hearing date was January 29, 2025, at 7:00 PM.
The comment period was extended and the hearing record will remain open until 5:00 PM on February 26, 2025. Please use the following links to view the copy of the public notice, the hearing letter which contains the project description, the applicant's (MdTA) presentation for the public informational hearing, the recording, the transcript of the hearing, and decision documents.
Resources
Interested in conducting a wetland restoration or other conservation activity on your land?
For More Information
For more information contact the Wetlands and Waterways Protection Program at 410-537-
3456 or [email protected].
