Standing in Marshall, Governor Stein highlighted the critical need for proactive preparation in the face of increasingly severe weather events. "Last year’s flooding of the French Broad River after Helene is a somber reminder of how damaging flooding can be to an area," said Governor Stein. "We must stay prepared for future severe weather events, and this funding will help communities become more resilient and less vulnerable to flooding."
The grants, administered through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) Division of Water Resources, will support 11 targeted projects across five major river basins: the Cape Fear, French Broad, Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, and Lumber rivers.
Western NC Projects Focus on River Restoration
Three projects in the French Broad River Basin—the heart of the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene’s record-breaking rainfall—are receiving over $1 million collectively for stream and floodplain restoration:
Madison County: The Land of Sky Regional Council is awarded $789,000 for the "Rollins and Fortner Hollow Riverbank Restoration." This project will restore nearly a mile of the French Broad River, plant streambank vegetation, and add 11 acre-feet of water storage in a residential area impacted by Helene.
Haywood County (Town of Clyde): The Southwestern Commission receives $110,000 to restore a half-mile of the Pigeon River and create 6 acre-feet of floodplain storage in an urban residential area.
Yancey County: The Yancey County Soil and Water Conservation District is awarded $100,000 for the "Cattail Creek Flood Resiliency" project, which includes restoring 1,000 linear feet of stream channel and adding 8 acre-feet of water storage.
These investments underscore the state's commitment to nature-based solutions to mitigate future flood risks in the mountainous region, which experienced historic flood levels and hundreds of landslides during the storm last year.
Statewide Initiatives for Enhanced Flood Resilience
The announcement also includes projects aimed at reducing risk across central and eastern North Carolina, utilizing a variety of flood mitigation techniques:
Cape Fear River Basin: The Town of Apex is receiving the largest grant in this round—$1.4 million—to restore Beaver Creek, plant vegetation, and add 5 acre-feet of floodplain water storage.
Lumber River Basin: The City of Lumberton will use $748,000 to install culverts and construct a vegetated bioswale to manage stormwater runoff along Linkhaw Road.
Tar-Pamlico River Basin: The Town of Nashville receives $1.25 million for a major effort to restore 48 acres of floodway property, construct two nature-based stormwater control measures, and add 31 acre-feet of water storage along Stony Creek. Dare County will also use $65,000 to install bioswales and culverts to protect N.C. 12 in Hatteras Village.
Neuse River Basin: Multiple projects are funded, including $600,000 for Durham County to install a bioretention area and bioswales along Little Lick Creek and nearly $720,000 split between two City of Wilson projects to enhance water storage capacity and construct a new stormwater wetland.
The Flood Resiliency Blueprint: A $76 Million Commitment
This $6 million funding round is part of the larger, $76 million effort allocated by the North Carolina General Assembly for the North Carolina Flood Resiliency Blueprint.
DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson noted that these "targeted investments will strengthen resilience and help local governments reduce the costs, extent, damage, and disruption from flooding events." To date, the Blueprint has funded 72 projects statewide, totaling more than $35 million.
The Blueprint itself is a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind initiative designed to be the backbone of North Carolina's statewide flood planning. It uses an online decision support tool based on the best available science to help local governments and partners develop, evaluate, and prioritize resilience projects, ensuring future funding is directed to where it will have the greatest impact.
WNCTimes
Image: NC Governor Stein's Office