Baltimore's Inner Harbor is maintaining a "C" grade for overall ecosystem health, according to the 2025 Healthy Harbor Report Card. This assessment, released by the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, shows a mixture of ecological gains alongside ongoing environmental concerns, as reported by FOX Baltimore.
One highlight from the report is the record "A" grade achieved by the harbor for its dissolved oxygen levels, indicative of aquatic health improvements. "Baltimore's Harbor is no longer dismissed as dead water," Adam Lindquist, vice president of Waterfront Partnership, told CBS News Baltimore. However, the harbor still faces significant issues, notably that chlorophyll a levels, indicating the presence of algae, fell to a "D".
Swimming safety in the harbor has improved, with the harbor meeting Maryland’s standards 80% of the time, save for soon after rainfall when bacteria levels rise due to stormwater runoff. Areas such as Fells Point and the Jones Falls River Mouth were noted for marked water quality enhancements since 2011. Following last year’s Harbor Splash event, which marked the first public swim in over 40 years, the Waterfront Partnership is looking to safely broaden recreational swimming, as confirmed by FOX Baltimore and CBS News Baltimore.
Oysters have been recognized as essential in aiding water quality restoration, and a goal has been set to cultivate five million more in the coming five years. To counteract plastic pollution, 278,000 beverage containers were collected by the Mr. Trash Wheel devices in 2024. Advocacy by the Waterfront Partnership for a Maryland "Bottle Bill" aims to reduce single-use plastic waste and encourage recycling, a commitment to environmental stewardship that residents look to see furthered in the future.
