Land and Water Fund Awards Support Conservation

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The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has announced more than $36 million in North Carolina Land and Water Fund grants to protect land and water resources statewide—from the mountains to the coast.

In Western North Carolina, Mitchell, Madison, Avery, and Yancey counties will each receive funding for projects that strengthen conservation, restore streams, and improve resilience in areas affected by flooding and storms like Hurricane Helene.

  • Mitchell County: Stream restoration and floodplain recovery work in Bakersville, part of a broader effort to restore and protect waterways damaged by Hurricane Helene.
  • Madison County: Funding for watershed planning to identify opportunities for stream and stormwater management improvements in flood-prone mountain areas.
  • Avery County: Support for land conservation and water quality planning projects to protect mountain headwaters and wildlife habitats.
  • Yancey County: Grants to protect local parkland and natural areas, adding acreage for recreation and conservation near the Toe River watershed.

Statewide, this year’s Land and Water Fund grants will protect more than 9,300 acres of land, restore over six miles of streams, and improve 85 acres of wetlands and floodplains. More than $24 million of the funding goes to rural and economically distressed counties.

“These grants are an essential tool for protecting North Carolina’s unique natural places and the communities that depend on them,” said Pamela B. Cashwell, secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

A full list of 2025 grant awards is available at www.nclwf.nc.gov/2025-nclwf-awards/open

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