The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) has awarded more than $3.6 million in grants to support stream restoration, water-based recreation and water management projects across North Carolina.

The total included $2.9 million in grants awarded to 13 local governments through the Water Resources Development Grant program state and local projects fund. In addition, DWR awarded another $703,416 to support two stream restoration projects on agricultural lands through a cost-sharing program with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

“These grants support stream restoration, address stormwater and flood resiliency and improve access to our state’s valuable water resources,” said DEQ Secretary Mary Penny Kelley. “The impacts of Hurricane Helene have underscored how important projects like these are for our communities and our natural resources.”

The grant awards can be used for stormwater control measures, including for drainage and flood control; stream restoration projects, including shoreline stabilization and dam or aquatic barrier removals; and to boost access to water-based recreation resources through construction of greenways near waterways, park development or water access sites. Additionally, this program provides grants for feasibility studies that support these three eligible categories of projects.  
 
The following projects were approved for funding:  
 
State and Local Grant Awards 

• Mitchell County Soil and Water Conservation Service, Bakersville Creekwalk Extension and Phase III Restoration, $500,000

• Durham Soil and Water Conservation District, Eagle - UTs to Ellerbe Creek Stream Restoration Project, $200,000 

• Randolph County Soil and Water Conservation District, Watkins Aquatic Barrier Removal along Reed Creek, $153,000

• New River Soil and Water Conservation District, West Jefferson Stormwater Detention Project, $109,300

Natural Resources Conservation Service - EQIP Stream Restorations

• Alleghany Soil and Water Conservation District, Hoppers Stream Restoration on Wolf Branch and Tributaries, $397,472

• Mitchell County Soil and Water Conservation Service, Whitson Stream Restoration Bean Creek, $305,944 

The grants were provided through the Water Resources Development Grant Program, which awards cost-sharing grants of up to 50% in two categories: state and local projects, which are cost-shared with local governments, and projects on agricultural lands that are cost-shared with EQIP. The awards are for applications submitted in the spring 2024 cycle.  

There are two grant application cycles per year. The current fall 2024 application cycle ends Dec. 31, while the spring 2025 application cycle runs from Jan. 1 to June 30. More information is available on the Water Resources Development Grant program website, including details about the funded projects. For more information, contact Amin Davis, grant manager, by email at amin.davis@deq.nc.gov.