A December 15 DelmarvaNow article reported that the omnibus spending bill recently passed by the United States Congress includes $70.3 million in funding for Maryland waterway projects from the Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore.

 U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has announced the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 includes $70.3 million for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects in Maryland.  …

“These public investments in Maryland’s waterways create and sustain private sector jobs. This federal investment in the lives and livelihoods of those who depend on clean and open waterways will keep businesses open and keep Marylanders working,” Senator Mikulski said.

The bill includes $23.725 million for annual maintenance dredging of the Port of Baltimore shipping channels, which support more than 25,000 jobs across the state, including 14,630 direct jobs. These jobs generate $3 billion in salaries to for hardworking Marylanders and their families and $304 million in state and local taxes.

The article lists all of the funded projects, including $15.1 million for the continuation of the Poplar Island environmental restoration project in Talbot County, $22.4 million to dredge the  C&D canal, $2.5 million for oyster restoration, $1.9 million for Jennings Randolph Lake in Garrett County, and $0.5 million for the Anacostia Restoration Plan.