Soil & Water - Impaired & Impacted Streams Initiative

The Impaired and Impacted Streams Initiative (IISI) initially began as the Agricultural Sediment Initiative in 1999 when several districts worked together to survey waters impaired by agricultural sediment on the 1998 303(d) list. Information collected through the survey process was used for an EPA 319 grant that funded several projects to address agricultural nonpoint source pollution in assessed waters.

The IISI has since grown statewide and the initiative's intention remains the same: to encourage Districts to survey waters with documented impaired or deteriorating water quality from agricultural activity and identify opportunities for targeted projects and Best Management Practice (BMP) installation. Since 2007, based on an adopted resolution, a portion of Agriculture Cost Share Program (ACSP) funds called Impaired and Impacted (II) funds are annually directed to the IISI to fund projects identified through the survey process. To date, over half of districts statewide participate in the program and millions of dollars in funding have been requested to complete projects.

Steps to Participate in the IISI and request Agriculture Cost Share Program (ACSP) Impaired and Impacted (II) Funds:

1. Identify up to three HUC 12 watersheds containing waterbodies that are impaired or impacted by agricultural nonpoint source pollution. Participating districts must prioritize ACSP practice implementation in selected watersheds in the upcoming program year.
2. Check if your district has an active and approved survey for the watershed(s) identified in Step #1 (approved list linked here). Approved surveys last 5 years .
3. Complete the online FY2027 Impaired and Impacted Streams and Watershed Survey by April 17, 2026 for each watershed without an approved survey.
4. Update the district's FY27 ACSP ranking form to prioritize contracting/practice implementation in watersheds identified in Step #1. Include watershed names and 12-digit Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) and assign points.
5. Determine funding needs for expected practice implementation in watersheds identified in Step #1 in the upcoming fiscal year. If funding needs are unknown by June 1, 2026, districts are not eligible for ACSP II funds in FY27.
6. Determine if at least 85% of the District's FY25 and FY26 II allocations were encumbered or voluntarily returned mid-year for re-allocations. If the District only received one II allocation in the last two fiscal years (July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026), determine if at least 70% of the District's II allocation was encumbered or voluntarily returned mid-year for re-allocations. Districts that did not encumber or return mid-year enough II funds to meet the minimum percentages listed above are not eligible for II funds in FY27. If the District has not received an II allocation in the last two fiscal years Step 6 does not apply.
7. Request ACSP II funds by completing the FY2027 Cost Share Programs Strategic Plan by June 1, 2026. Funds may only be used in watersheds identified in Step #1.

        IISI Participation and Funding Request Flowchart

        District Eligibility Requirements Webinar

Important Considerations:

• Approved IISI survey submittals remain active for 5 years. However, districts may choose to complete new IISI survey submissions before the 5-year survey expiration date if there has been significant changes in resource concerns, water quality, or expected projects since the survey was submitted.
• Surveys can be completed for watersheds with impaired AND/OR impacted waterbodies.
  • Impaired waters are those exceeding state water quality standards for one or more parameters based on state approved water quality monitoring data. Segments of waterbodies determined to be impaired are listed on the state’s biannual 303(d) list.
  • Impacted waters are those identified by districts as having degrading water quality as a result of agricultural nonpoint source pollution. Districts consider agricultural activity, monitoring data (or lack thereof), water quality classification drops from state records, recommendations from watershed plans, and field-observed resource concerns when making an 'impacted' determination. Reasoning and data is shared in survey submissions.
• Many resources are available to assist districts in completing all necessary steps to participate in the IISI and successfully request ACSP II funds for the upcoming fiscal year. Review uploaded items and resource links in the following tabs for assistance.

A webinar covering eligibility requirements to participate in the IISI for Fiscal Year 2026 is linked below. The same eligibility requirements will apply for participation in the IISI for Fiscal Year 2027. Contact the NPS Planning Coordinator if you have additional questions.

FY26 IISI Eligibility Webinar

Tutorial videos linked below were originally created to provide additional guidance for the accurate completion of the FY25 IISI survey. The FY27 IISI survey includes the same questions. Contact the DSWC NPS Planning Coordinator if you have additional questions about filling out the FY27 IISI survey.

Tutorial Video #1 - available for viewing to help you complete water quality concerns questions

Tutorial Video #2 - available for viewing to help you complete resource needs and district activity questions

The following materials were prepared to assist Districts in completing the online survey and all necessary steps to successfully request Impaired and Impacted Streams Initiative funds for the upcoming program year.

• DSWC IISI Survey Webmap – FY27
  • Web map available to view to help districts with completing the IISI Streams and Watershed Survey which displays county boundaries, 12-Digit HUC watersheds with active DSWC approved IISI surveys, 2022 Integrated Report Data, and HUC 12 subwatershed boundaries ***Please note: Users should zoom into the map for additional layers to appear.***
• IISI Impact List FY2027 Webmap
  • Web map created to help districts determine streams with potentially deteriorating water quality that is likely resulting from or exacerbated by agricultural nonpoint source pollution. Waters with data inconclusive ratings for fecal coliform and turbidity water quality parameters from the 2022 integrated reporting cycle are displayed on this map. ***Please note: Waters displayed in this map only include those waters that received a 'Category 3 - Data Inconclusive' primary IR rating in the 2022 cycle for turbidity or fecal coliform parameters. Some segments included on this map exceeded state standards for other water quality criteria and subsequently were included on the state's 303(d) list. Users should zoom into the map for NC DOT municipal boundaries and HUC 12 watershed boundaries to appear.***
• MS Word Document Impaired and Impacted Streams and Watershed Survey
  • Available for download to help you prepare responses prior to completing the online survey form
• Impaired and Impacted Streams Initiative Funding Request Process
  • Flowchart identifying the steps to successfully participate in the IISI program
• List of FY2026 Priority Watersheds
  • Pdf list of priority watersheds in FY2026 where IISI allocations (II funds) are eligible to be used as of September 2025.
• List of Watersheds with Active and Approved IISI Survey
  • Pdf list of all watersheds with active and approved IISI surveys as of September 2025.
• Recorded Webinars Covering District Eligibility Requirements to Participate in the IISI and Receive II Fund Allocations
  • IISI Updates (February 2023)
    • IISI Presentation powerpoint slides from February 2023 Cost Share Programs Training
  • Eligibility Requirements for FY2025 II Allocations (April 2024)
    • IISI Presentation powerpoint slides from April 2024 webinar covering eligibility items for FY25 II allocations
  • Eligibility Requirements for FY2026 II Allocations (April 2025)

The following resource links may be necessary to review to successfully answer questions in the Impaired and Impacted Streams and Watershed Survey.