Clean
Water Management Trust Fund
This trust fund provides grants to state and local governments, as well
as nonprofit environmental organizations, for several purposes including
the acquisition of land for riparian buffers that protect water quality
and for establishing networks of greenways. The trust was allocated $40
million for fiscal year 2001, and about half of its monies are typically
devoted to land acquisition.
Conservation
Grants Fund
Created in 1997 under G.S. 113A-232, this fund has never received any
money. It is intended to help nonprofit land trusts improve their ability
to conserve land. Should allocations eventually be made to the fund, grants
will cover transaction costs associated with the donation of property,
educational costs of land trust staff and volunteers, and more. The fund
can also be used to increase citizen participation in land and water conservation.
The fund is administered by the NC Department of Environment and Natural
Resources.
Federal
Emergency Management Act's Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA)
This program provides funding to assist states and communities in implementing
measures to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to
buildings, manufactured homes and other structures insurable under the
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). FMA was created as part of the
National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 4101) with the
goal of reducing or eliminating claims under the NFIP. FMA is a pre-disaster
grant program.
Land
and Water Conservation Fund
This fund was created in 1964 to provide funds for federal land acquisition,
as well as matching grants for state and local government parkland acquisition
and facility development. Federal allocation for fiscal year 2001 is about
$2.9 million (60 percent for local governments and 40 percent for state
government). This fund only provides reimbursement money for completed
projects.
National
Recreational Trails Program
Grants to federal, state and local governments, as well as nonprofit organizations,
are given by this grant program for the acquisition, development and maintenance
of land for trails. The fund awards approximately $1.1 million annually.
Funding is from the US Department of Transportation.
NC
Farmland Preservation Program
This program was created in 1986 to allow county governments, soil
and water conservation districts and land trusts to acquire development
rights or conservation easements of agricultural lands. Grants are given
for both property rights and transaction costs. The NC General Assembly
allocated $200,000 to the fund for fiscal year 2001.
NC
Parks and Recreation Trust Fund
This trust fund provides grants for state parks, local parks, and beach
and waterfront access. It is funded through the deed stamp tax, annually
awarding an average of $24 million per year. About a quarter of its funding
has been devoted to open space protection.
Public
Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Program
This program was established in 1981 to provide matching grants to local
governments for projects that improve public pedestrian access to the
state's beaches, estuarine shorelines, coastal rivers and urban waterfronts.
Funds may be used for land acquisition and for construction of access
facilities such as parking, restrooms, dune crossovers and piers.
Transportation
Enhancement Grant
The NC Department of Transportation sets aside 10 percent of its federal
Surface Transportation Program funds for use on specific types of enhancement
projects. Funds go to state and local government grants for a number of
open space preservation efforts, including bicycle and pedestrian facilities,
scenic and historic acquisitions, and wildlife conservation projects.
Water
Resources Development Grants Fund
This fund awards grants to state and local governments for water-based
parks and recreation activities or stream restoration. Available funding
averages $400,000 per year for grants to acquire land.
NC
Wetlands Restoration Program
This program partners the Division of Water Quality's Wetlands Restoration
Program with other government agencies and private land trusts to provide
funding for the acquisition and restoration of wetlands.