Clean Water Management Trust Fund - In August, Richard Rogers took over as executive director of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. As assistant secretary of Natural Resources for the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Richard had demonstrated his commitment to long-term conservation of land and water through the development of the One N.C. Naturally program.

At its September meeting, The Clean Water Management board of trustees approved 40 grant applications for acquisition projects worth more than $44 million. Many of the funded projects acquire lands adjacent to streams, preserving buffer to insure the protection of these waterways. Results of the board’s decisions are at http://www.cwmtf.net/September07.htm. Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant applications are due Feb. 1, 2008.

Natural Heritage Trust Fund - The Natural Heritage Trust Fund Board will meet in Boone Oct. 21-22, 2007, to consider 26 applications submitted by the departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, and Agriculture and Consumer Services, along with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. In total, the applicants are requesting almost $50 million. See http://www.ncnhtf.org/.

Parks and Recreation Trust Fund - During 2007, the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Authority considered 80 grant applications for local government parks and recreation projects, requesting more than $24 million. From these applications, PARTF was able to award $17 million to support 54 local government projects. For more information, please see http://www.partf.net.

PARTF grant application deadline is Jan. 31, 2008. If you are considering applying for a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant in 2008, request a video of their October teleconference. For more information, please see http://natural-resources.ncsu.edu/rrs/teleconference.html

N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund - The N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund received $8 million in appropriations in the state budget. This fund is administered by the N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture for the purpose of purchasing agricultural conservation easements and agreements on agricultural, horticultural and forestlands; or funding programs that promote the development, transitioning, or sustainability of agriculture, horticulture and forestlands.

The ADFP Trust Fund Advisory Committee is now soliciting proposals for the 2007-2008 funding cycle. Landowners must partner with a non-profit organization or county agency to submit an application. Guidelines and procedures to submit an application are provided at http://www.ncadfp.org/. Grant applications are due by Dec. 14.