Maryland Coastal Bays Progra

What Maryland Coastal Bays Progra does

Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1996 and based in Berlin, Maryland, operating as one of 28 federally designated National Estuary Programs under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Its mission is the restoration and protection of Maryland's coastal bays watershed — approximately 175 square miles spanning the five coastal bays of Chincoteague, Sinepuxent, Isle of Wight, Assawoman, and Newport — implemented through a Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan under the Federal Clean Water Act. The program is governed through four standing committees (Citizens Advisory, Policy, Implementation, Science and Technical) and structured as a multi-stakeholder collaboration across federal, state, county, municipal, academic, and nonprofit partners.

MCBP's core service portfolio includes scientific water quality monitoring with annual report cards and State of the Bay publications, citizen-science initiatives (horseshoe crab spawning surveys, the Stranded Spawning Horseshoe Crab Recovery Team, diamondback terrapin surveys since 2012, and oyster gardening), environmental education programs (Estuary Explorers summer camps for grades 3-8, Explore the Estuary adult learning series, and the Journey Up the Coast program delivered jointly with the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays), and physical restoration projects (living shorelines, wetland restoration, fish passage improvements, island protection across named sites including Tizzard Island, Skimmer Island, Lizard Hill, Bishopville Dam, Greys and Herring Creek Nature Parks, and the Ilia Fehrer Nature Preserve). Outreach is delivered through a website, Facebook presence, monthly email newsletters, recurring community events such as Bay Day and Marine Debris Plunder, and partnership-based beach cleanups.

MCBP has no commercial revenue model. Funding flows from EPA National Estuary Program allocations, public and private grants, individual donations (including via PayPal), and volunteer mobilization; services are provided without charge to the community. The organization employs 11-50 staff and reports operating metrics including over 32% of the Maryland mainland portion of the Chincoteague Bay watershed protected under permanent conservation easements and over 7,900 stranded spawning horseshoe crabs rescued in the prior year. It is not a venture-backed entity and has no parent company, subsidiaries, or M&A activity in the supplied data.

Name

Maryland Coastal Bays Progra

Legal name

Maryland Coastal Bays Foundation

Website

https://mdcoastalbays.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Maryland Coastal Bays Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and one of 28 federal National Estuary Programs, delivering scientific water-quality monitoring, habitat restoration, citizen-science, and environmental-education services across a 175-square-mile watershed of five Maryland coastal bays, funded by EPA grants, donations, and partner contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Watershed monitoring
• Habitat restoration
• Environmental education
• Citizen science programs
• Estuary conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: The Maryland Coastal Bays Program is a nonprofit that receives funding through donations, grants from federal agencies (EPA), and public/private contributions. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; all donations are tax deductible.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program operates as a nonprofit National Estuary Program providing coastal watershed monitoring, habitat restoration, citizen science programs, and environmental education across five coastal bays in Maryland. The organization delivers scientific water quality monitoring with annual report cards, community-based restoration projects, oyster gardening, horseshoe crab and terrapin surveys, summer camps, and public engagement events. All services are delivered free of charge and funded through EPA grants, public/private donations, and partnership contributions.

Product overview

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program is a nonprofit environmental organization operating as one of 28 National Estuary Programs, focused on the restoration and protection of Maryland's coastal bays watershed. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs including scientific water quality monitoring and annual report cards, citizen science initiatives (horseshoe crab surveys, terrapin surveys, oyster gardening), environmental education programs (summer camps, adult learning series, youth programs), volunteer restoration events, and public engagement activities. The program operates under a Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan with four strategic priorities: providing healthy waters, protecting fish/wildlife/habitats, creating resilient communities and ecosystems, and developing public engagement. Major annual events include Bay Day, Marine Debris Plunder, and the 30th Anniversary Gala. The organization manages numerous restoration project sites including living shorelines, wetland restorations, and fish passage improvements across the five coastal bays (Chincoteague, Sinepuxent, Isle of Wight, Assawoman, and Newport).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Quality Monitoring and Report Cards
• Oyster Gardening Program
• Horseshoe Crab Surveys and Recovery Program
• Diamondback Terrapin Surveys
• State of the Bay Report
• Estuary Explorers Summer Camps
• Explore the Estuary Adult Learning Series
• Journey Up the Coast
• Bay Day Annual Event
• Marine Debris Plunder Cleanup
• Discover Your Watershed Volunteer Program
• Living Shoreline and Wetland Restoration Projects
• Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 32% of Chincoteague Bay watershed protected with permanent conservation easements
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Delaware Center for the Inland BayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint 'Journey Up the Coast' education program for children ages 6-12 exploring Delaware Inland and Maryland Coastal Bays. Collaborative bay-hop education program with boat tours.
• Lower Shore Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on land preservation and conservation easements. MCBP and Lower Shore Land Trust co-present events like 'Planting Native with Doug Tallamy' and 'Elevating the Nature of Living Landscapes'.
• Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on horseshoe crab surveys, terrapin surveys, fishing programs (Go Fish Worcester!), bay scallop programs, and coastal resiliency projects including Tizzard Island protection.
• Town of Ocean CityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for beach cleanups, Storybook Walk implementation at Bayside Park, and community events like the 30th Anniversary Gala.
• Assateague Coastal TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in community beach cleanups and environmental outreach events.
• Surfrider Foundation - Ocean City Maryland ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in community beach cleanup events and marine debris removal initiatives.
• Restore the ShoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for coastal restoration and 'Trail to Restore the Shore' projects.
• Go Green OCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for environmental events and beach cleanups.
• Ocean Pines AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts annual Bay Day event with over 25 environmental providers. Joint community engagement and environmental education initiatives.
• Worcester CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks with Worcester County on land preservation, stormwater management, and restoration projects. MCBP assists with finding funding for nature parks.
• Virginia Institute of Marine ScienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Atlantic Bay Scallop program providing scientific expertise on bay scallop history and aquaculture.
• University of the Eastern ShoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Atlantic Bay Scallop program providing academic expertise.
• Assateague Island National SeashoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for salt marsh programs and film screening events like 'Stories to Save Us: The Saltmarsh Sparrow'.
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in salt marsh and wildlife conservation programs, especially for saltmarsh sparrow protection.
• Delmarva Resource Conservation and Development CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner supporting salt marsh programs and conservation initiatives.
• Protectors of the St. Martin RiverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on oyster gardening program and oyster cage construction events.
• Ayers Creek AdventuresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for kayak programs and evening paddles on Ayers Creek.
• UMD ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides watershed restoration specialists for rain garden educational programs.
• Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in land protection programs with permanent conservation easements in the watershed.
• USFWS Coastal Wetlands ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in wetlands protection and coastal conservation efforts.
• Program Open SpaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in land conservation and open space preservation.
• Coastal Bays Rural Legacy ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand protection program contributing to conservation easements in the watershed.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Delaware Center for the Inland Bays: Delaware's National Estuary Program, also small-staffed and focused on inland bays protection. Directly comparable as an active MCBP partner running co-developed education programs like 'Journey Up the Coast', sharing the same NEP federal funding model, citizen science approach, and nonprofit governance structure.
• Tampa Bay Estuary Program: One of the 28 National Estuary Programs focused on Tampa Bay, Florida. Comparable as a sister NEP with the same federal EPA funding model, CCMP-driven restoration priorities, citizen science and education programs, and small nonprofit operating model covering multiple connected sub-estuaries.
• Casco Bay Estuary Partnership: Maine's National Estuary Program serving Casco Bay. Comparable as a small-team NEP with EPA funding, water quality monitoring, citizen science, and education/outreach programs operating across a multi-bay coastal system.
• Long Island Sound Study: EPA-funded National Estuary Program for Long Island Sound. Comparable in federal NEP designation, multi-state CCMP-style management plan, monitoring and report cards, and education/outreach mission similar to MCBP's programs.
• San Francisco Estuary Partnership: An NEP serving the San Francisco Bay watershed. Directly comparable as a federally designated estuary program with CCMP implementation, report cards, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and education/volunteer programming, with similar mission and organizational structure.
• Narragansett Bay Estuary Program: Rhode Island's National Estuary Program with EPA funding, CCMP, and restoration programs. Comparable as a small-staffed NEP delivering water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, and education across a multi-bay coastal system.
• Barnegat Bay Partnership: New Jersey's National Estuary Program focused on Barnegat Bay. Comparable as a regional NEP of similar size and scope, running EPA-funded restoration, monitoring, and education across a coastal bay system with strong volunteer engagement.
• Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership: Another of the 28 NEPs, covering the Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine system in North Carolina. Comparable in federal designation, multi-county watershed scope, monitoring and report card programs, and nonprofit program delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Chesapeake Bay Program: The flagship and largest of the 28 National Estuary Programs, operating across the Chesapeake watershed. Comparable as the same NEP-federal partnership structure with EPA funding, water quality monitoring, report cards, and CCMP-style restoration plans, but at much greater geographic and budget scale than MCBP.

Others

• Surfrider Foundation: National coastal conservation nonprofit focused on beach cleanups, marine debris, and water quality. Comparable as a marine-focused nonprofit that co-hosts beach cleanups with MCBP but operates a much broader chapter-based advocacy and education model rather than a single watershed NEP.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MarylandCoastalBaysProgram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maryland-coastal-bays-program

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Maryland Coastal Bays Progra