Sundogs over the Severn on December 4th. Photo Credit: Ted Delaplaine

The past year along the Severn has been a story of steady momentum, community energy, and meaningful restoration. Month after month, the Severn River Association delivered progress on restoration projects, oyster recovery, water‑quality monitoring, and hands-on stewardship. Over the past year, your support enabled SRA staff, volunteers, interns, and partners to advance our mission and deliver a cleaner Severn River. 

In 2025, SRA grew as an organization, welcoming two new staff members, dozens of new volunteers, and broadening our base of community supporters investing in the Severn River’s future. While there is too much to sum up in one brief letter, I must mention a few special high notes from the year:

• Connect: Hosted 427 volunteers through water quality monitoring, invasive species removals, trash clean ups, and growing oysters.
• Restore: Planted 23 million oysters on sanctuary reefs, finished construction of a complex urban stormwater management project, completed the design of two additional projects, and secured new funding for the river through the Whole Watershed Act.
• Protect: Helped prevent $65 million in cuts to critical restoration funding. 



Here in December, it’s a natural moment to appreciate how far this shared work has come—and to acknowledge that none of it happens without a committed community. If you’ve followed along, volunteered, attended events, or simply care about the river, your connection matters. Thank you. As the year closes, please help sustain the work that keeps the Severn thriving by making a gift before the year’s end. Thank you!

For the Severn,

Jesse Iliff

Executive Director

Jesse@severnriver.org

Inspired by the progress SRA is making, some additional board members have decided to increase their giving and join the end of year match. Because of all this generosity, all donations until midnight on December 31st will be doubled up to $36,500!

If you missed November's event on the Last Days of the Schooner America, you can watch the recording on our website with the button below.

If you'd like to purchase one of his books, they are available at the following local bookstores:

Olde Fox Books

HERE: Pop-up Shop

Annapolis Maritime Museum

Or DavidGendellBooks.com

The last month has seen a flurry of grant proposals go out, totaling over $1M requested. Two proposals requested funds to develop action plans for high priority subwatersheds—Severn Run Tributary 2 in Odenton, and Bear Branch in Severna Park. Four of the proposals are to design Best Management Practices (BMPs) to treat stormwater runoff that directly enters the Severn. Four propose designing living shorelines to prevent erosion, trap sediments, and increase habitat in sensitive areas. (Pictured is an example of an area where a living shoreline would be beneficial). Two more propose stabilizing eroding streams in headwater areas. We will hear back about results in the spring and in the meantime are keeping fingers and toes crossed! 

We are only able to submit so many grant applications thanks to our donors. With a full-time team at SRA we have the personnel and expertise to write, and win, grant funding, allowing us to multiply donor support to equal or greater grant dollars.

A huge thank you to our grantors!

THANK YOU 2025 SPONSORS!

Our important work is only possible due to the generous support of people like you. If you are a current donor - THANK YOU! We welcome your support any time of the year. If you are not yet a member, please consider joining the movement today. Any size donation makes you a member.

HELP RESTORE AND PROTECT THE SEVERN RIVER