Community-Led Restoration
Water Quality & Soil Testing
Shoreline Stabilization
LOCATION
Eagle Harbor, MD
CLIENTS
Ridge to Reefs
Town of Eagle Harbor
EPA Environmental Justice Program
TIMELINE
2024-Present
STATUS
Ongoing
COLLABORATION
Ridge to Reefs – Project lead, EPA grantee
Town of Eagle Harbor – Mayor and Commissioners
Green Mechanics Benefit LLC – Data dashboard, outreach, technology support
University of Maryland & Morgan State University – Research partners
Patuxent Riverkeeper – Community engagement and advocacy
45
homes protected with whole-home filtration systems
Safe drinking water for all residents
Improved home values in a historically African American community
Project Overview
The Eagle Harbor Project addresses urgent water quality and environmental justice concerns in Eagle Harbor, Maryland, the last remaining historically African American waterfront community in the Chesapeake Bay. For decades, residents have relied on bottled water due to cloudy tap water, sediments, odors, and suspected contamination linked to the adjacent Chalk Point Generating Station, a coal- and oil-fired power plant in operation since 1964. Through a collaboration of community leaders, nonprofits, academic partners, and technical experts, the project combines household filtration systems, baseline environmental monitoring, and nature-based remediation strategies to restore health, safety, and resilience for this historic town.
Funding support includes:
EPA Environmental Justice and Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Grant (2024–2027)
~$370,000
Supports collection of baseline data on drinking water, soils, coastal waters, and health impacts from Chalk Point Station
Quality Filters Project: $347,002.69 (Tier III proposal)
~$350,000
Installs household-level whole-home filtration and reverse osmosis systems for 45 homes and the community center
Community Refill Station & Connectivity
Includes installation of a drinking water jug refill machine, creation of a WiFi-enabled community dashboard, and internet access for residents
Problem Statement
Eagle Harbor is among the most vulnerable communities in Maryland:
91st percentile for wastewater discharge exposure
94th percentile for residents under age 5
89th percentile for residents over age 64
Chalk Point Station historically emitted sulfur dioxide, arsenic, mercury, and PCBs, contaminating air, soils, and waterways. With only ~67 full-time residents (2020 Census), the town has endured decades of bottled water dependence, unable to rely on wells due to sedimentation and discoloration. This situation threatens not only health and safety, but also the cultural and historical continuity of one of the Chesapeake Bay’s last Black waterfront towns.
Solution
The project provides both immediate protection and long-term resilience through a multi-pronged approach:
Whole Home Filtration Systems: Activated carbon + KDF + reverse osmosis units at 45 homes and the community center.
Community Refill System: A redundant, accessible source of safe water.
Environmental Monitoring: Drinking water, soils, coastal waters, and bioaccumulation in crabs/oysters.
Community Dashboard: Real-time tracking of water quality and installation outcomes, with WiFi-enabled resident access.
Innovation
Decentralized, household-level interventions ensure immediate safe water access, rather than waiting for centralized infrastructure overhauls.
Integrated environmental monitoring establishes baseline data for the first time, enabling accountability for legacy industrial pollution.
Community-owned data dashboard empowers residents with transparent, real-time information.
Nature-based remediation planning goes beyond technical fixes to ensure ecological and cultural restoration.
Impact
Quantitative Outcomes
45 homes protected with whole-home filtration systems
97% reduction in PCB exposure risk at the household level
~$717,000 in secured funding for multi-year interventions
Qualitative Outcomes
Peace of mind restored for residents long reliant on bottled water.
Cultural preservation of a historic African American community.
Community empowerment through engagement, training, and access to environmental data.
Holistic Significance
Safeguards public health while protecting home values in a vulnerable community.
Establishes Eagle Harbor as a model for environmental justice and resilience planning across the Chesapeake Bay.
Affordability
Reduces long-term bottled water costs for residents
Generates local jobs through system installation and monitoring
Positions the community to attract additional funding for resilience infrastructure
Conclusion
The Eagle Harbor Project represents a transformational environmental justice effort, combining immediate household protection with long-term ecological restoration. By addressing both legacy contamination and current water insecurity, the project ensures that Eagle Harbor residents gain access to safe, affordable drinking water, while preserving the history, culture, and property values of one of the Chesapeake Bay’s last historic Black waterfront communities.
