Preservation, Conservation and Restoration of North Carolina’s Water Resources

CWMTF

March 7, 2008

The Clean Water MissionThe Clean Water Mission

• Restore/enhance degraded waters

• Protect/conserve unpolluted waters

• Eliminate water pollution• Create a network of

riparian buffers and greenways

• Fund innovative systems as demonstrations

• Not strictly conservationAlligator River

Trust Fund BackgroundTrust Fund Background

• Created: 1996 by General Assembly in response to fish kills

• Grants: protect pristine waters, restore degraded waters

• Board of Trustees: 21 members

• Not regulatory

Trust Fund ProjectsTrust Fund Projects

• Stream and wetlands restoration

• Wastewater treatment improvements

• Stormwater management• Conservation land

acquisitions

Clarendon Tract, Cape Fear River; Lake Fontana

Who Can Apply for Grants?Who Can Apply for Grants?

• State agencies

• Municipalities, counties and other local government agencies

• Conservation non-profits

Amount Funded by Applicant Type

County10%

Municipal30%

State Agency

25%

Non-Profit29%

Other Local Govt.

Agency6%

CWMTF Funded ProjectsCWMTF Funded Projects

• 1,148 grants since 1997

• Over $832.7 million awarded

• Leveraged over $1.4 billion in public and private funds

Funded Projects by Project Type

Restoration10%

Stormwater5%

Minigrants5%

CREP3%

Planning2%

Acquisition50%

Wastewater25%

Coordinate Public

Programs0%

CWMTF Funded ProjectsCWMTF Funded Projects1997-20071997-2007

Statewide/ Regional6%

S. Coastal Plain25%

N.Mountains/W. Piedmont

17%

N.Coastal Plain19%

Mountains20%

E. Piedmont13%

Amount Funded by RegionAmount Funded by Region

(1997-2007)(1997-2007)

Number of Projects by Primary Number of Projects by Primary Purpose (1997-2007)Purpose (1997-2007)

Wastewater20%

Restoration12%

Stormwater6%

Planning10%

Acquisition38%

Minigrants14%

The Trust Fund’s Accomplishments The Trust Fund’s Accomplishments - by the Numbers- by the Numbers

•4,560 miles of buffers preserved

•435,573 acres protected

•Over $443.4 million invested in land and water conservation

•135 buffer, stream and wetlands restoration projects funded totaling over $82.5 million

Waynesville Watershed

Key Acquisition GrantsKey Acquisition Grants

•Grandfather Mountain - TNC Partnership

•Chimney Rock State Park

•DuPont State Forest

•Bird Island

DuPont State Forest

CWMTF, Water Quality and Military CWMTF, Water Quality and Military Base ProtectionBase Protection

• $10 million invested to protect 10,000 acres near key bases in 2003 & 2004

• 2006 investment increased to more than $12 million to help preserve over 6,100 acres

Beck Tract, Onslow County; Ft. Bragg

Local Government FundingLocal Government Funding

•$378.6 million to local governments

• 46% of the all CWMTF grants issued

•Projects in all 17 river basins

CWMTF Grants to Local Governments

Local Government FundingLocal Government Funding•232 Local governments assisted with wastewater improvements

•Over $215.3 million to repair leaky sewers & more effectively treat wastewater

•Emphasis on helping low-income communities

Goldsboro Constructed Wastewater Polishing Wetlands

Local Government FundingLocal Government Funding

• 68 stormwater treatment projects - $47.4 million

• Stormwater remains the state’s most serious NPS pollution concern

• New CWMTF initiative underway to identify effective innovative solutions to stormwater management

City of Greensboro Stormwater Project

CWMTF Annual FundingCWMTF Annual Funding

•Funded 100% by annual appropriation (not a dedicated funding source.

FY01-02: $40 million appropriated; $19 million received

FY02-03: $66.5 million

FY03-04, 04-05: $62 million

FY 05-06, 06-07, 07-08: $100 million

Grant Application ProcessGrant Application Process

•Accept applications once a year: Feb. 1

•Field representatives visit project sites

•Staff review, score and rank applications

•Recommendations to Board of Trustees

•Grant selections/decisions made by Board

2007 CWMTF Grant Cycle2007 CWMTF Grant Cycle

•186 applications totaling $155 million

•Plus 28 applications deferred from previous cycles totaling $102 million

•217 grants awarded totaling $119 million (includes additional funding awarded to previously approved projects)

•$22.8 million in remaining funds awarded for TNC IP Tracts in 2007 cycle

2008 CWMTF Grant Cycle2008 CWMTF Grant Cycle

•195 applications totaling $177 million•$93.7 million requested for 89 acquisition projects

•TNC: 10 projectsRequesting $15.8 millionTotal project cost -$38.7 million

CWMTF for the Future: Questions CWMTF for the Future: Questions to Considerto Consider

• How will we identify or be identified with conservation in the next decade?

• Move from acquisition/planning driven toward stewardship?

• Increase focus on taking care of what we’ve protected? Town Creek

CWMTF for the FutureCWMTF for the Future• We must work closely now with our partners to

make sure we are protecting the right places

North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund

Website: www.cwmtf.net• Application forms• Funding criteria• Press releases• Project highlights • Meeting schedules