Mid-Chesapeake Bay Island Ecosystem Restoration Project

The Mid-Chesapeake Bay Island Ecosystem Restoration Project – commonly known as Mid-Bay Island – is located in Dorchester County near what remains of James and Barren islands. It is a crucial future placement site for the DMMP, and is integral to the Port’s strategy for managing the nearly two million cubic yards of sediment that is dredged from the Maryland Bay’s shipping channels every year while maximizing its use as a beneficial resource.

Mid-Bay Island will comprise approximately 55 percent wetland and 45 percent upland habitats. The project is focused on restoring and expanding island habitat to provide hundreds of acres of wetland and terrestrial habitat for fish, shellfish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals through the beneficial use of dredged material.

Once completed by mid-century, Mid-Bay Island will accommodate an estimated 90 to 95 million cubic yards of dredged material, providing over 30 years of placement capacity.