A big shoutout to two Downstream partners who have been awarded grants through the Chesapeake Watershed Investment for Landscape Defense (WILD) program.
The WILD Grants Program supports projects that strengthen communities, build local capacity, and advance shared conservation and restoration priorities—especially those that protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
West Virginia: Cacapon and Lost Rivers Land Trust
Cacapon and Lost Rivers Land Trust received $209,300 to expand the collaborative capacity of the Cacapon Watershed Collaborative, a regional partnership hosted by the land trust. The project will advance fish and wildlife habitat protection and restoration in the Cacapon River watershed through:
- land protection
- riparian restoration
- landowner outreach
- increased community participation
This investment will help strengthen long-term sustainability and coordination across the partnership.
Maryland: Catoctin Land Trust
Catoctin Land Trust received $75,700 to complete an assessment of the Monocacy Grasslands Important Bird Area in Frederick and Carroll counties. Working with partners including the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership and the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative, the project will develop a plan to protect biodiversity and critical habitat for grassland birds through:
- outreach and engagement
- technical assistance
- program design and implementation planning
- hosting farmers and landowners to share conservation practices
A Strong Year for Chesapeake Conservation
In all, 33 new or continuing conservation and restoration grants totaling nearly $6.9 million were awarded.
