The 1996 General Assembly of North Carolina established the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) to help local governments, state agencies and conservation non-profit groups finance projects to protect and restore surface water quality. Since 1996 -- thanks to appropriations from the General Assembly -- the CWMTF has awarded 630 grants for a total of $480 million.  CWMTF grants have leveraged over $643.3 million in private and other public funds.

The CWMTF provides grants to:

·   Enhance or restore degraded waters

·    Protect unpolluted waters

    Contribute toward a network of riparian buffers and greenways for environmental, educational, and recreational benefits.

Who is eligible to apply?

·                     Local governments

·                     State agencies

·         Conservation non-profits

The Clean Water Management Trust Fund and N.C. Soil and Water Districts

·   Grants to Soil and Water Districts Statewide: 21 totaling $4.9 million

·  Grants to Resource Conservation and Development Agencies: 26 totaling $9.8 million

·  Grants to NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation: 7 totaling $27 million

CWMTF Investment in Soil and Water Projects: 54 grants totaling nearly $42 million

Key Projects Include:

§         Funding of Phases I-III of the state’s swine lagoon buy-out program: $15.6 million

§         Surry County Soil and Water Conservation District Mitchell River Restoration: $1.3 million

§         Pilot View RC&D Upper Silas Creek Restoration: $1.6 million

CWMTF Quick Facts:

·         CWMTF is a voluntary, incentive-based water quality program.

·         A 21-member Board of Trustees appointed by the Governor and General Assembly review and fund/not fund all applications for grants.

·         CWMTF funds about one third of the requests that it receives.

·         CWMTF funds have leveraged over $643.3 million in private and other public funds.

·         The CWMTF has invested over $276.7 million in 267 projects to help local governments, state agencies, and land trusts acquire both conservation easements and land to protect riparian buffers, floodplains and wetlands from Lake Logan in Haywood County to Bird Island in Brunswick County.

·         CWMTF grants have contributed towards the protection of more than 237,366 acres and 2,908 miles of riparian buffers.

·         CWMTF’s grants enhance North Carolina’s quality of life and economy in addition to protecting water quality.

·         CWMTF estimates that over $10.5 billion is needed to protect and restore water quality in North Carolina.

For more information, contact Lisa Schell at (919) 716-0057 or visit www.cwmtf.net

Updated December 22, 2004