Governor Pat McCrory announced today that more than $945,000 in grants has been awarded for nine projects that will help North Carolina communities restore streams, reduce flooding and erosion, aid in stormwater management, provide recreational opportunities and benefit the state’s water resources.
“Our natural habitat is what makes North Carolina a beautiful state to live in and to visit, “said Gov. McCrory. “These grants serve as investments into our state’s resources that will yield valuable returns for years to come.”
The N.C. Division of Water Resources awarded the funds as a part of its 2016 fall grant cycle for the Water Resources Development Project Grant Program. Money for the grants was generated by appropriations from the General Assembly.
The division awarded the following grants:
- Alleghany County -- a $30,000 grant to help the Alleghany County Soil and Water Conservation District restore 400 linear feet of the East Prong Roaring River in Stone Mountain State Park.
- Bertie County -- a $125,000 grant to help the Town of Windsor construct water- based recreation amenities along the Cashie River.
- Buncombe County -- a $73,500 grant to help the Town of Black Mountain restore 1,200 linear feet of Tomahawk Branch.
- Durham County -- a $200,000 grant to help the Durham County Soil and Water Conservation District restore 3,045 linear feet of Panther Creek.
- Durham County -- a $90,000 grant to help the Durham County Soil and Water Conservation District construct three stormwater control measures at Southern High School.
- Mitchell County -- a $47,000 grant to help the Mitchell County Soil and Water Conservation District restore 1,000 linear feet of Grassy Creek associated with the expansion of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.
- Onslow County -- a $24,750 grant to help the Town of Swansboro replace an existing wood bulkhead in the Ward Shore Park with 265 linear feet of living shoreline.
- Surry County -- a $300,000 grant to help the Town of Pilot Mountain restore 1,700 linear feet of an unnamed tributary of Chinquapin Creek.
- Wilkes County -- a $55,000 grant to help the Town of Wilkesboro construct more than 1.5 miles of the Yadkin River Greenway.
The Water Resources Development Grant Program provides cost-share grants and technical assistance on a competitive basis to local governments in North Carolina. Applications are accepted for projects associated with water management, stream restoration, general and recreational navigation, beach protection, land acquisition, development of water-based recreational facilities and NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program projects.
There are typically two grant cycles per fiscal year with application deadlines of July 1 and Jan. 1. Units of local government and local political subdivisions are eligible for these grants. The full list of grant recipients can be found at: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-resources-grants/financial-assistance. For more information, contact Amin Davis, grant project coordinator with the N.C. Division of Water Resources at 919-707-9132 or amin.davis@ncdenr.gov.