Link to Information on Donated Easement Guidelines

Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) trustees approved a policy for mini-grants for pre-acquisition application costs not to exceed $25,000. (Initially, the trustees committed to approve only five such grants). The decision to approve or deny requests for such grants will be made by the trustees in an expedited process at regular meetings.

Eligible applicants should apply to CWMTF offices; application should be in the form of a brief letter, describing the property, and attesting to the conformance to the criteria listed below. Also, a budget on CWMTF budget template for donated conservation easements is required (Click here to download CWMTF budget template in MS-Word.)

These grants will be made to any eligible applicant for reimbursement of up to 80% of real costs for appraisals, environmental audits, survey work and the purchase of options on properties wherein 50% or more of the property lies within 300 feet of certain state surface waters (the applicant would attest to this condition). The waters (perennial streams) must be either:

(1) on the 303 (d) list of "impaired waters" (and the source of impairment is at least partially non-point), or

(2) supplementally classified Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) or High Quality Waters (HQW) by the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) or approved for classification by the EMC but awaiting completion of the rule-making process, or

(3) identified by the NC Natural Heritage Program as a significant aquatic habitat, or

(4) Wild Trout Waters as designated by the Wildlife Resources Commission, or

(5) a Primary Nursery Area as designated by the Division of Marine Fisheries, or

(6) waters for which CWMTF has funded "riparian corridor protection plans." (If the waters in question are 303(d) listed, then the applicant should also be required to briefly explain how the acquisition would relate to a remedy for the water's impairment).

Follow-up proposals to actually acquire such lands will likely be competitive; however, nothing in these preliminary grants implies any larger commitment from CWMTF.

The mini-grant would be paid strictly as a reimbursement for 80% actual costs on the approved pre-acquisition costs.

NOTE: Consideration and issuance of mini-grants are subject to availability of funds.

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