north carolina ecosystem enhancement program (nceep) project implementation
TRANSCRIPT
North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (NCEEP)
Project Implementation
NCEEP Mission
To restore, enhance, preserve, and protect the functions associated with wetlands, streams, and riparian areas including but not limited to those necessary for the restoration, maintenance, and protection of water quality and riparian habitats throughout North Carolina
What Types of Projects Does NCEEP Implement?
• Stream restoration, enhancement and preservation
• Wetland restoration, enhancement and preservation
How Does NCEEP Find Projects?
•NCEEP Local Watershed Plans
•Private Landowners
•Local Governments
•County Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Criteria for NCEEP Projects
• For stream restoration projects, NCEEP must have a conservation easement (in perpetuity) that extends 30 feet from each edge of bank of the proposed restoration, enhancement, and/ or preservation channel.
• For wetland restoration projects NCEEP must have a conservation easement (in perpetuity) that wraps around the wetland restoration, enhancement and/ or preservation area. No additional buffer is needed.
NCEEP Conservation Easements
• Perpetual easement that allows passive recreation but does not allow development in the easement area.
• Mowing is not allowed in the conservation easement. Invasive plant removal is allowed.
• Designed to be low to zero maintenance.
• Is NOT open to the public.
• Selling NCEEP a conservation easement– Landowner keeps title to land– About 80% of fair market value per acre
• Selling the easement area to NCEEP fee-simple• No longer have to pay taxes on that land• Landowner is paid full fair market value per acre• Donating the easement area to NCEEP fee-simple • Donate a conservation easement to NCEEP (keep the title)
**Equipment crossings, roads, and cattle crossings can be cut out of the easement area for current or future use.
Options For Granting a Conservation Easement to
NCEEP
Criteria for EEP Projects
Stream Projects:• Minimum stream buffer width: 30 feet*• Minimum length of stream reach: 2000
feet• Maximum stream order: 3rd
• Number of landowners: ideally <5• Stream is perennial• Stream is altered or degraded• Drainage area < 10 square miles
* 50 ft in the Piedmont and Coastal plain
Wetland Projects:• Mapped hydric or with hydric soil inclusions• Altered hydrology (Ditched hillside seep)• Natural plant community missing or
severely altered• Minimum size:
» riparian wetlands 5 acres in isolation»non-riparian wetlands 15 acres in isolation
Criteria for EEP Projects
Best Management Practices (BMPs)
If the property is being used as pastureland, NCEEP can pay for a fencing out the conservation easement, watering structures, and potentially other BMPs to help improve water quality.
Impacted, degraded streams
Ecosystem Enhancement Program
Examples of impacted, degraded wetlands
NCEEP
During Construction
Stream Restoration Projects- After Construction
NCEEP- Projects
Before and After
Jumping Run Creek - Before
Jumping Run Creek- After
Burnt Mill Site-Before
Burnt Mill-After
Payne site- Before
Payne site- After
Hominy Swamp Creek- Before
Hominy Swamp Creek- After
Hammond Site - Before Construction
Hammond Site - After Construction(approximately 2 months)
Brush Creek - Before Construction
Brush Creek - After Construction(approximately 2 months)
Questions?
NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program1652 Mail Service CenterRaleigh, NC 27699-1652
(919) 715-0476www.nceep.net
Paul WiesnerNCEEP Project Manager
(828) 273-1673