CWMTF will provide up to $25,000 to pay transaction costs associated with the donation of conservation easements to protect surface water quality. Funds may be used for the donation of property fee simple, but an easement must be recorded on the property.

Payment will be reimbursement for actual costs.

No funds will be distributed for administration, baseline documentation report, or stewardship until the conservation easement is approved by CWMTF and is recorded.

There is no deadline for applying for a donation grant. The decision to approve or deny requests will be made by the Board of Trustees in an expedited process at regular meetings. Consideration and issuance of donation grants are subject to availability of funds.

Guidelines:

• The conservation easement does not have to be CWMTF’s standard easement.
• The easement must benefit water quality.
• The easement may be held by the State or by a qualified applicant.
• The terms of the conservation easement must provide a reverter to the State of North Carolina.
• The terms of the conservation easement must provide a third party right of enforcement to the State of North Carolina.
• The value of the property or conservation easement must exceed transaction costs.
• CWMTF will not pay for an appraisal.
• If the land owner does not want a tax credit for the donation, an appraisal is not required. (Tax value may be used to calculate the value of the easement.)
• Grants for donated conservation easements will expire after one year and will not be extended.
• Applicants will have 60 days to sign a donation grant after receiving the first draft of the contract from the CWMTF.
• A separate application must be made for each parcel.

This is intended as a guide; there may be additional conditions in the contract.

Application

Application is in the form of a letter to the Executive Director. The application letter should answer the questions listed below. In addition:

• A map of the property showing surface water is required.
• A budget on CWMTF budget template for donated conservation easements is required (see below).
• The applicant’s Federal ID number is required.

1. Will the donation be fee simple or a conservation easement?
2. How many acres will be donated?
3. Who will hold the title?
4. Who will hold the conservation easement?
5. What is the value of the donated property or conservation easement?
6. Was the value determined through an appraisal or tax value?
7. What are the transaction costs?
8. Will the property have CWMTF’s standard conservation easement or an easement written by your organization?
9. If the easement will be written by your organization, please describe the riparian widths and restrictions of the easement. If you have a copy of the proposed easement, please attach a copy to the letter.
10. If you are requesting stewardship funds, please explain how stewardship costs were calculated and the interest rate assumed. Include annual costs and hours for items such as monitoring, communications, data collection, maintenance, and travel.

Donated Easement Requests

Applicant Federal ID number ________________

Location of CWMTF Offices

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