North Carolina Land and Water Fund: Regular Grant Cycle

North Carolina Land and Water Fund: Regular Grant Cycle

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
Amount: US $25,000 - US $5,000,000
Last Updated: January 19, 2026

Summary

The North Carolina Land and Water Fund provides grants to support local governments, state agencies, and conservation non-profits in addressing water pollution issues. This initiative aims to enhance and restore degraded waters, protect unpolluted waters, and contribute to ecological diversity. Projects may include land acquisition, stream restoration, and innovative stormwater management practices. By fostering community involvement, the fund seeks to develop effective solutions that safeguard North Carolina's natural resources for future generations.

Overview

CWMTF receives a direct appropriation from the General Assembly in order to issue grants to local governments, state agencies and conservation non-profits to help finance projects that specifically address water pollution problems. The nine-member CWMTF Board of Trustees has responsibility over the allocation of moneys from the Fund. To carry out the mandate set by legislation, CWMTF provides grant funds for the following purposes: enhance or restore degraded waters protect unpolluted waterscontribute toward a network of riparian buffers and greenways for environmental, educational, and recreational benefitsprovide buffers around military bases acquire land that represents the ecological diversity of North Carolina acquire land that contributes to the development of a balanced State program of historic properties It is clear that in order to maintain the level of water quality, ecological diversity, and historical values that North Carolinians deserve and expect, we must accomplish more than we would be able to do with traditional programs alone. The potential for this initiative is immense; but -- if North Carolina is to truly capitalize on the opportunity -- it ultimately depends upon local communities and organizations to develop creative proposals which will protect and restore our resources. Type of Projects Land Acquisition The Land Acquisition Program includes the acquisition of land in fee or conservation easements for the following purposes: protecting and conserving riparian buffers for the purpose of providing environmental protection for surface waters and urban drinking water supplies and establishing a network of riparian greenways for environmental, educational, and recreational usesprotecting and conserving surface waters and enhancing drinking water supplies, including the development of water supply reservoirsproviding buffers around military bases or for State matching funds for the REPIconserving land that represents the ecological diversity of NCpreserving land that contributes to the development of a balanced State program of historic properties NOTE: Land acquisitions funded by the CWMTF must be protected by a permanent conservation easement or other permanent conservation agreement. Stream Restoration Projects CWMTF funds restoration projects to enhance or restore degraded waters and to protect downstream natural resources such as drinking water supplies, fisheries and recreation opportunities. The intent is to restore previously degraded lands to re-establish their ability to protect water quality. To date, the majority of eligible applications have taken the form of stream restoration projects, particularly natural channel designs. However, other approaches to restoring impaired waters include riparian wetland enhancement, floodplain and streambank enhancements, and estuarine shoreline erosion control. Note: Restoration efforts funded by the CWMTF must be protected by a conservation easement. Innovative Stormwater Projects CWMTF can consider funding innovative stormwater projects that demonstrate a novel and untried method to water quality at the project site and how it would contribute to achieving CWMTF’s goal of advancing stormwater-management practices for water quality. Any proposed innovative stormwater project application should contain a clear description of the methods to be tested and discuss how results from such a pilot test can be successfully transferred to other North Carolina sites with similar water issues or problems. Planning Projects CWMTF may fund planning efforts that develop potential projects that: enhance or restore degraded waters, protect unpolluted waters,  contribute toward a network of riparian buffers and greenways for environmental, educational, and recreational benefits, provide buffers around military bases to protect the military mission, acquire land that represents the ecological diversity of North Carolina, acquire land that contributes to the development of a balanced State program of historic properties, or facilitate innovative efforts to improve stormwater treatment. Any proposed planning application should contain a clear outline and vision of the plan to be produced and clearly define the purpose and goals for any work that would be implemented following the planning project.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. A state agency, a local government, or a nonprofit corporation whose primary purpose is the conservation, preservation, and restoration of North Carolina's natural and cultural resources is eligible to apply for a grant.Acquisition projects: All project acres must be restricted with conservation agreements to protect natural or cultural resources.Innovative Stormwater projects: Projects may be located on land that is owned by State or local governments or by private organizations or individuals. Settings of project locations may be land that has been developed or built-out, land to be developed (greenfields, infill), developed land to be redeveloped, or developed land that has been neglected, abused, or avoided for redevelopment (brownfields, greyfields).

Ineligibility

Acquisition projects:Funds from CWMTF are not available, nor are matching resources credited for any of the following: purchase or removal of structures (including dams), except on a case-by-case basis for purchase of historic structuresthe rehabilitation, repair, restoration, operation, or maintenance, of a historic structureconstruction of greenway or other trails