Pooled Monitoring Initiative’s Restoration Research Award Program is now open with applications due January 29, 2026. The goal of this research program is to answer several key restoration questions that are a barrier to watershed restoration project implementation. Funding partners hope that answering these questions will ultimately lead to increased confidence in proposed restoration project outcomes, clarification of the optimal site conditions in which to apply particular restoration techniques, how to bolster practice adoption using social science, information useful to regulatory agencies in project permitting, and information that will help guide monitoring programs. This program supports the Pooled Monitoring Initiative which is designed to connect key stormwater and stream restoration questions posed by the regulatory and practitioner communities with researchers. This program also supports research for pollutants of emerging concern, social science, “trade-offs,” and more. Each year the top research questions are added to this RFP and some years past research questions are cycled off while we await findings to inform the next question’s iteration. The Pooled Monitoring Initiative pools funding resources to answer your top research questions and deliver the results back to you for use. If you are interested in funding this research, let us know as we can work together to add your funds to the “pool.”

  • What this funds: Research to address one or more of the key restoration questions listed in the Request for Proposals (RFP).
  • Who can apply: Both not-for-profit entities (academic institutions, non-profit organizations) and for-profit entities can apply.
  • How much can be awarded: Funding partners have allocated just over $1,988,000 for this research program. Literature reviews will be funded at up to $50,000 and there is no cap for research projects.
  • Information Session: Two online information sessions will be held as follows:
  1. Register for December 12, 2025, from 12 pm to 1 pm (EST) Info Session
  2. Register for January 6, 2026, from 12 pm to 1 pm (EST) Info Session
  • Application Process: The applications are all submitted through an online system available from the program website (here).
  • Due Date: January 29, 2026
  • Questions/Assistance: If you have questions, reach out to the program contacts: Sadie Drescher at sdrescher@cbtrust.org or 410-974-2941, ext. 105 and/or Mimi Abdu at mabdu@cbtrust.org or 410-974-2941, ext. 162.
  • Funding Partners and Collaborators: The Chesapeake Bay Trust, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Charles County, Frederick County, Harford County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, and other partners, such as Maryland Department of the Environment, announce this Request for Proposals for our Restoration Research Award Program.
  • Pooled Monitoring Website: Includes all program details, including this RFP and the link to start the application: https://cbtrust.org/grants/restoration-research/