RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has revealed that the North Carolina Land and Water Fund Board of Trustees has allocated over $28 million in grants aimed at safeguarding the state’s natural resources, waterways, historic sites, and military buffers. This funding is intended to preserve North Carolina’s rich landscapes from the mountains to the coast.
According to Governor Stein, “Every year, millions of residents and visitors enjoy North Carolina’s abundance of beautiful natural resources. This funding will help us conserve those resources and protect clean drinking water for communities across the state.”
The grants will conserve more than 10,000 acres, with the majority of this land expected to become accessible for outdoor activities including hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, and birdwatching. More than $22 million of the grants will be directed towards rural and economically challenged counties.
Stream and Wetland Restoration Projects
This funding initiative encompasses nine projects aimed at restoring or enhancing over five miles of streams, rivers, lakes, and estuaries, as well as improving more than 900 acres of previously drained or degraded wetlands. Additionally, the grants will facilitate the removal of barriers to reconnect over 200 miles of spawning habitats within the Cape Fear River and its tributaries. Five grants have also been designated for projects that will explore innovative methods for stormwater management, and 18 planning initiatives will be funded to pinpoint critical water quality and conservation opportunities throughout various watersheds in the state.
“The Land and Water Fund plays a vital role in protecting North Carolina’s water quality, open spaces, and treasured cultural heritage,” stated Pamela B. Cashwell, the secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “These grants have been used in all 100 N.C. counties to preserve our unique natural and cultural resources for future generations.”
Protection of Rare Species
The awarded grants will contribute to the conservation of 68 types of rare flora, fauna, and natural communities, benefiting five plant species that are endangered or threatened. Among the high-elevation species that will receive support are Roan Mountain bluet, spreading avens, and northern pygmy salamander, which are unique to the southern Appalachian Mountains. In the Piedmont region, species such as bluebells, sweet pinesap, and Carolina foothills crayfish will gain protection. Coastal projects will focus on safeguarding extensive areas of pond pine woodland, freshwater and brackish marshes, and nonriverine swamp forests.
Support for Outdoor Recreation and Military Buffers
This year’s funding also aims to bolster North Carolina’s $17 billion outdoor recreation sector by protecting 1,885 acres to be added to game lands under the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission in Ashe, Cherokee, Graham, and Rowan counties. Furthermore, 4,620 acres will be incorporated into State Park land in McDowell County, alongside the preservation of seven sites with significant historical and cultural resources, including parts of the Bentonville Battlefield and the Guilford College Woods.
Additionally, the grants will assist in creating buffers around U.S. military installations, training areas, and flight paths, with a total of $5,233,630 allocated to protect more than 2,315 acres near Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The military sector is a significant contributor to the state’s economy, generating $66 billion annually.
Competitive Funding Process
Ann Browning, chair of the North Carolina Land and Water Fund Board of Trustees, noted the competitive nature of this funding cycle, stating, “We had some really tough choices to make this year. There were over $90 million in requests for funding, but we had under $30 million to award. There were so many great projects we just weren’t able to fund.”
The North Carolina Land and Water Fund is supported by direct appropriations from the N.C. General Assembly, which provides grants to local governments, state agencies, and nonprofits aimed at financing projects that restore and safeguard the state’s natural and cultural heritage.
Source: N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
