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Page updated: July 2026
At Severn River Association (SRA) we help communities improve their local environment and restore the Severn River. SRA and Redeemer Anglican Church of Annapolis are partnering together on this project. Good communication is really important – so let us know what you think! This page will be updated regularly to let you know about what’s happening with the restoration assessment at the church’s property. Please email Erin Hamner, erin@severnriver.org, with questions. Click on any picture to make it bigger or to download.
We really want your input and feedback on the project. Right now, while the project is still in its early stages, is the best opportunity to make sure to get it right. Please let SRA know what you think.
SRA is a 501c3 non-profit organization with experience and success at pursuing funding and project management for pollution reduction and environmental restoration. Our vision is a thriving Severn River by 2050, and our mission is to connect the people who live, work, and play on the Severn River to restore and protect it for all of our communities.
Project Origin
In January 2026, a staff member at the Chesapeake Bay Trust connected SRA to Groundskeeper Ed Holt from Redeemer Anglican Church of Annapolis. A pre-application site visit was conducted to better understand the flooding and environmental concerns. Three possible projects were identified: 1) daylight a buried spring under the church, 2) replace the impervious parking lot with permeable pavers, and 3) stabilize the adjacent stream. Maybe other ideas will surface too, with your input.
What’s the Big Deal About Stormwater, Anyway?
Great question!
As you’re probably already well aware, storms can cause flooding and erosion. Does something like this look familiar?
When water runs downhill it carries sediments (to which phosphorus ‘sticks’), dissolves nitrogen and carries these nutrients with it, down to the Severn and the Chesapeake Bay. Nutrients sound good, right? We need nutrition after all.
Yes – but to a point.
When there are too many nutrients (either nitrogen or phosphorus), it spurs algae populations to grow out of control. Nitrogen and phosphorus are basically what’s in plant fertilizer, as many gardeners know. The algae population grows so much that it uses up all the nutrients, but then the algae ‘starve’ to death and sink to the bottom of the water. The algae then decompose and the bacteria decomposing the algae use up oxygen, creating dead zones where oxygen levels are too low for most organisms (e.g. rockfish, oysters, and crabs) to survive.
Along with the environmental impacts of stormwater, urban infrastructure limits where water can go and can end up in places we don’t want it (like basements!). This assessment will help us know what restoration projects are feasible on the church property, and guild us towards the next steps of full design and permitting.
Project Summary
The primary goal of the project is to assess restoration opportunities to prevent future basement and property flooding on the church property. As the church congregation grows, the current infrastructure around the property needs to be updated, but also be protected and resilient against extreme weather events (rain, snow, etc). Another important goal is to find feasible restoration projects that will help improve water quality in Back Creek and the Severn River. The Severn River is “impaired” under the Clean Water Act for nitrogen, phosphorus, sediments and other pollutants. A third important goal is to increase habitat and native species biodiversity and to increase native pollinators (birds, butterflies, bees and bats). SRA will work with Redeemer Anglican to further define project goals and desired outcomes. SRA wrote a grant proposal to the Anne Arundel Watershed Restoration and Forestry grant (AAWR) in February 2026, and was awarded the funds to hire a contractor, and meet with the church, to conduct a site assessment on the property.
Project Assessment: Updates
SRA wants to make sure that the project(s) identified are something that the church and local community will enjoy (in addition to all the great environmental benefits). This section will be updated with the assessment progress.
- Coming soon.
Project Funding
SRA was awarded $64,518 from Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Anne Arundel County Watershed Restoration and Forestry grant.
Contractors
At this time, we put this project out to bid to multiple contractors. With the churches feedback, SRA will select a suitable contractor for the assessment.
Timeline
- January 2026 – SRA met with Chesapeake Bay Trust and Ed Holt from Redeemer Anglican for the requisite pre-application site visit
- February 2026 – SRA submitted a grant application for an assessment of church property
- June 2026 – SRA awarded $64,518 for the assessment!
- June/July 2026 – Kick-off meeting with CBT, City of Annapolis, Redeemer Anglican, and SRA
- August 2026 – Contractor selection
- September – November 2026 – Contractor will gather background information and conduct field and desktop survey. First community meeting
- November/December 2026 – Second community stakeholder meeting to provide updates on current analysis done
- January – February 2027 – Contractor will complete conceptual designs for identified projects
- March 2027 – Stakeholder meeting to discuss designs and future funding needed to move project(s) forward
Ways You Can Help!
Community support is critical to a successful grant proposal. Specifically, there are several ways you can choose to support this project. Any and all are appreciated!
- Participate in community meetings to contribute your ideas and opinions
- Give written or verbal feedback on the assessment and future design plans
- Write a letter of support to strengthen future grant propsals.
Other …. There are lots of ways to be involved. If you have an idea or want to discuss, please reach out to SRA’s Restoration Associate, Erin Hamner: erin@severnriver.org.
Community Questions & Concerns
Let SRA know your thoughts about the project. We will update this section with how these will be addressed.
Question: The church wants to expand the parking lot to accommodate the growing congregation. Should the church wait to proceed with expanding or can we start now?
A: If the parking lot disturbs 5000 sq ft or more, then it will trigger the need for a grading permit. This would require the implementation of storm water practice to mitigate the added impervious cover. Storm water practices that are regulatory requirements are outside the scope for grant funding. It is best to hold off on adding parking spaces, but the church should proceed with what’s best for the church
Photos
SRA will host a Google Photo Album for the project. Photos will be added to track progress.
Presentations
Coming soon.