Press release
From N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund
RALEIGH – Earlier this week the Board of Trustees of the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) awarded more than $10 million in grants for projects intended to protect drinking water, improve water quality across the state and protect land around military installations.
At its Oct. 15 meeting the CWMTF board approved grant awards of $10,462,222 for its 2012 grant cycle. The fund received 157 applications requesting more than $122 million this year. The projects awarded include: $1,880,355 to protect military installations; $5,099,995 to infrastructure projects; and$3,481,872 for acquisition of stream buffers. A full list of projects funded can be found online at http://www.cwmtf.net/Docs/2012%20Final%20Funding%20Decisions.pdf. Some highlighted projects include:
Military – Four projects were funded for $1,880,355. Awards for military projects include four land acquisition projects intended to support compatible uses around the Piney Island Bombing Range, Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg. These projects are located in high priority areas for our military installations and this land conservation ensures that the military will be able to carry out critical training missions.
Infrastructure – Thirteen projects were funded for $5,099,995. Infrastructure projects funded included $500,000 for a wastewater infrastructure rehabilitation project to clean up waters above the city of Eden’s drinking water intake and improve water quality in the Dan River, which is used for recreation.
Another infrastructure project was $400,000 to Mecklenburg County to restore portions of McDowell Creek to reduce soil erosion into Mountain Island Lake, a drinking water supply for Mecklenburg County. The project will reduce transport of sediment into the lake by 600 tons annually, reducing the cost of treating drinking water and protecting the capacity of the reservoir.
Acquisition – Seven projects were funded for $3,481,872. The CWMTF provided $600,000 to purchase a conservation easement on 312 acres along the Henry Fork River and Little River in Burke County. This easement is part of a 1,685-acre project that will conserve land adjacent to South Mountains State Park and help protect the drinking water supply for the town of Newton.
The CWMTF was established in 1996 to help finance projects that enhance or restore degraded waters, protect unpolluted waters and drinking water supplies, and/or contribute toward a network of riparian buffers and greenways for environmental, educational and recreational benefits.
The 21-member, independent, CWMTF Board of Trustees has full responsibility over the allocation of monies from the Fund.
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