Protecting the Severn River for Generations to Come

TThe mission of the Severn Riverkeeper Program is simple: to protect and restore the Severn River for our families and future generations.

We work to reduce pollution, muddy runoff, contamination, and habitat loss throughout the Severn River watershed. Our ultimate goal is to restore the Severn to a healthy, thriving river—one that is safe, swimmable, and no longer classified by the EPA as an “impaired waterway.”

What We've Achieved

Our staff and dedicated volunteers work to preserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources of the Severn River Watershed. Through hands-on restoration, scientific monitoring, community engagement, and advocacy, we are:

Building prototype restoration projects in our streams and riparian areas that set the standard for ecosystem restoration, wetland enhancement and ecosystem uplift

Working with local communities to find funding for design and construction of restoration projects to reduce runoff.
Advocating for the river by patrolling for critical area violations and legally challenging developers and regulators when merited

Working with the scientific and environmental engineering disciplines to refine our approaches for stream restoration, outfall restoration and living shoreline management
Performing water quality monitoring and analyzing the results with Severn Riverkeeper’s team of esteemed scientists.

Advocating with state, federal and local policy makers and regulators to remove roadblocks to effective restoration.

A Grassroots Organization with a Long-Term Commitment

The Severn Riverkeeper Program (SRK) is a staffed, active grassroots organization dedicated to conservation, wetland preservation, and restoration throughout the Severn River watershed. SRK is also part of the National Waterkeepers Alliance, connecting our local work to a broader movement protecting waterways around the world.

Sara Caldes, our current Severn Riverkeeper, has been working with the organization since 2004. Fred Kelly, who founded the Severn Riverkeeper Program in 2002, continues to serve as Executive Director.

Together with our volunteers, supporters, scientists, and community partners, we remain committed to one goal:

A healthy Severn River—protected today and restored for generations to come.