North Carolina Land and Water Fund (NCLWF) was created by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1996 as the 'Clean Water Management Trust Fund'. The fund is an independent non-regulatory agency housed in the Division of Land and Water Stewardship in the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The special revenue fund was created "to clean up pollution in the State's surface waters and to protect and conserve those waters that are not yet polluted. The intent of the fund is "to focus on the cleanup and prevention of pollution of the State's surface waters, the establishment of a network of riparian buffers and greenways, and the preservation of property for establishing clean water supplies, the General Assembly believes that the results of these efforts will also be beneficial to wildlife and marine fisheries habitats." NCLWF issues grants to a variety of entities including local governments, state agencies and nonprofit corporations "whose primary purpose is the conservation, preservation, and restoration of our State's environmental and natural resources".
Enabling legislation and purpose
The fund is authorized under North Carolina general statute Article 2; Part 41 §143B-135.234: (a) Fund Established. – The Clean Water Management Trust Fund is established as a special revenue fund to be administered by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The Clean Water Management Trust Fund shall also be known as the "Land and Water Fund." The fund receives revenue from the following sources and may receive revenue from other sources:
Annual appropriations. Special registration plates under G.S. 20-81.12. Other special registration plates under G.S. 20-79.7. Hazard mitigation funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies.Funding purposes are laid out in the legislation, and have evolved over time. Septic and sewer infrastructure are no longer eligible, and natural heritage elements were added as part of the merger with the former NC Natural Heritage Trust Fund. Section C of the enabling legislation lays out the purposes as of June 2021:(c) Fund Purposes. – Moneys from the fund are appropriated annually to finance projects to clean up or prevent surface water pollution and for land preservation in accordance with this Part. Revenue in the fund may be used for any of the following purposes:
To acquire land for riparian buffers for the purposes of providing environmental protection for surface waters and drinking water supplies and establishing a network of riparian greenways for environmental, educational, and recreational uses. To acquire conservation easements or other interests in real property for the purpose of protecting and conserving surface waters and enhancing drinking water supplies, including the development of water supply reservoirs. To coordinate with other public programs involved with lands adjoining water bodies to gain the most public benefit while protecting and improving water quality. To restore previously degraded lands to reestablish their ability to protect water quality. To facilitate planning that targets reductions in surface water pollution. To finance innovative efforts, including pilot projects, to improve stormwater management, to reduce pollutants entering the State's waterways, to improve water quality, and to research alternative solutions to the State's water quality problems. To prevent encroachment, provide buffers, and preserve natural habitats around military installations or military training areas, or for State matching funds of federal initiatives that provide funds to prevent encroachment, provide buffers, and preserve natural habitats around military installations or military training areas. To acquire land that represents the ecological diversity of North Carolina, including natural features such as riverine, montane, coastal, and geologic systems and other natural areas to ensure their preservation and conservation for recreational, scientific, educational, cultural, and aesthetic purposes. To acquire land that contributes to the development of a balanced State program of historic properties. Repealed by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.4, effective July 1, 2015. Repealed by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.4, effective July 1, 2015. To protect and restore floodplains and wetlands for the purpose of storing water, reducing flooding, improving water quality, providing wildlife and aquatic habitat, and providing recreational opportunities.