North Carolina Land and Water Fund Awards More Than $36 Million to Protect Natural Areas, Waterways, Historic Sites, and Military Buffers

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announced today that the North Carolina Land and Water Fund Board of Trustees has awarded more than $36 million in grants for projects that will protect North Carolina's land and water from the mountains to the coast.

"North Carolina is home to remarkable natural beauty," said Governor Josh Stein. "These grants will help preserve that beauty."

The funds from today's grants will protect more than 9,300 acres, almost all of which will eventually be open to the public for hiking, hunting, boating, birding, and other recreational uses. More than $24 million in grants will go to rural and economically distressed counties.

This announcement funds 14 projects to restore or enhance more than six miles of streams, rivers, lakes, and estuaries and to restore more than 85 acres of drained or otherwise impaired wetlands and floodplains. Also awarded are grants for four projects designed to evaluate innovative techniques for managing stormwater. In addition, 10 planning projects are being funded to identify key water quality and conservation opportunities in mountain, piedmont, and coastal watersheds.

"Natural areas, rivers, and streams are critical to the health and well-being of North Carolinians and our economy," said Pamela B. Cashwell, secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. "The awarding of Land and Water Fund grants is an essential tool for protecting these unique and important places."

Grants awarded will help protect 103 types of rare plants, animals, and natural communities. Conservation projects will benefit 25 endangered or threatened plants and animal species, including Venus flytrap, red-cockaded woodpecker, Sandhills lily, Cape Fear shiner, Appalachian elktoe, and Neuse River waterdog.

This year's grants will support North Carolina's $28 billion outdoor recreation economy by:

• Protecting more than 6,250 acres that will be added to N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission game lands in Franklin, Graham, McDowell, Richmond, and Transylvania counties.

• Protecting more than 2,360 acres in local parks and preserves in Alamance, Caldwell, Carteret, Chatham, Dare, Durham, Henderson, Johnston, Wake, and Yancey counties.

• Protecting six sites with historic and cultural resources, including Fort Defiance, the homeplace of William Lenoir; portions of the Overmountain Victory Trail and the Walnut Hill historic district; and multiple archaeological sites.

• Improving more than 85 acres of floodplain and more than six miles of streams, rivers, and shores via living shoreline construction, stream and floodplain restoration, and dam removal projects. These awards include projects in communities profoundly affected by Hurricane Helene, such as stream restoration, resilience, and recovery efforts in Canton and Bakersville.

• Funding 10 planning grants across North Carolina, including identifying threats to water supplies, stormwater management and stream restoration opportunities, and wetlands and floodplains capable of mitigating flooding. Five of these projects directly address the recovery and need for increased resilience to flooding in western North Carolina communities affected by Hurricane Helene.

• Funding four innovative stormwater projects designed to evaluate the effectiveness of stormwater treatment systems in the eastern North Carolina communities of Havelock, Trenton, Smithfield, and Jacksonville. These projects will explore novel approaches to improving water quality and report lessons learned to state agencies and neighboring communities.

The North Carolina Land and Water Fund grants will also provide buffers for U.S. military installations and training areas, awarding $4,189,319 and protecting more than 1,500 acres near Marine Corp Air Station Cherry Point, Seymour Johnston Air Force Base, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, and U.S. Army Fort Bragg. The military sector contributes $66 billion in economic activity in the state each year.

"Over $12.5 million of our grant awards this year are going to counties recovering from Hurricane Helene," said John Wilson, chair of the North Carolina Land and Water Fund Board of Trustees. "These projects are an important part of maintaining and increasing resilience by protecting intact riparian areas and restoring floodplains and wetlands, which maximizes capacity to retain floodwater."

The North Carolina Land and Water Fund receives direct appropriations from the N.C. General Assembly to award grants to local governments, state agencies, and nonprofits to help finance projects that restore and protect the state's natural and cultural resources.

A complete list of grant awards is available on the North Carolina Land and Water Fund website at https://www.nclwf.nc.gov/2025-nclwf-awards/open.

About the North Carolina Land and Water Fund The North Carolina Land and Water Fund, previously known as the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, was established in 1996 to protect the state's drinking water sources. The N.C. General Assembly expanded the Fund's mission to include conserving and protecting the state's natural resources, cultural heritage, and military installations. The North Carolina Land and Water Fund has conserved more than 500,000 acres and protected or restored more than 3,000 miles of streams and rivers. To learn more, visit https://www.nclwf.nc.gov.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.