NCDA&CS receives water resources grants

Two divisions in the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently were awarded nearly $300,000 in grants from the state’s Water Resources Development Project Grant Program.

The N.C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation received $250,000 to be distributed to 18 eastern North Carolina counties for the removal of storm debris from streams. The following counties will receive funding through the grant: Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Martin, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell and Washington.

The N.C. Forest Service was awarded $45,000 to improve water quality in the Little River in Transylvania County. The grant will enable the agency to develop a plan for identifying future river, stream and wetland restoration efforts that improve the water quality and ecological function of the Little River and its tributaries in DuPont State Recreational Forest.

The N.C. Division of Water Resources awarded the grants as part of the $966,177 2014 fall grant cycle for the Water Resources Development Project Grant Program. The program will help North Carolina towns and counties restore streams, reduce erosion, study future water supplies and benefit other water resources. Money for the grants was generated by appropriations from the General Assembly.

The water resources program provides cost-share grants and technical assistance on a competitive basis to local governments in North Carolina. Applications are accepted for general and recreational navigation, water management, stream restoration, beach protection, land acquisition and development of water-based recreation facilities.

There are typically two grant cycles each fiscal year. A full list of grant recipients can be found at: www.ncwater.org/files/grants/Fall_2014_Grant_Awards.pdf.