State grant awarded to help protect Davidson County waterway
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Davidson County was a recipient of a North Carolina Land and Water Fund grant, N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper announced Friday, Sept. 23.
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Three Rivers Land Trust, forest track, Abbotts Creek received $327,285. The trust's mission is to protect and conserve land, natural areas, rural landscapes, family farms and historic places in the central Piedmont and sandhills of N.C. Three Rivers Land Trust operates in Anson, Cabarrus, Davidson, Davie, Iredell, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Stanly, Moore, Hoke, Scotland, Cumberland, and Harnett counties. The non-profit's office is based in Salisbury.
Beginning in Kernersville in Forsyth County Abbotts Creek becomes High Rock Lake near Lexington in Davidson County. The section of the lake that is officially Abbotts Creeks ends near the Highway 8 causeway, in Southmont.
In all, grants totaling $70.3 million, providing funds for 117 projects that seek to protect the state's land and water from the mountains to the coast were awarded.
“Clean water is critical for the health of our families and our economy,” Cooper said. “These grants will benefit local communities by enhancing water quality and providing open space for North Carolinians to gather and enjoy the outdoors.”
The funds will protect 27,157 acres, including 20,998 acres that will eventually be open to the public for hiking, hunting, boating, birding and other recreational uses. Funds were also granted for 37 projects to restore or enhance over 36 miles of streams, rivers, lakes and estuaries and to restore over 8,000 acres of drained wetlands. Funds were awarded for four projects designed to evaluate innovative techniques for managing stormwater. In addition, eight planning projects were funded to identify key water quality and conservation opportunities in mountain, piedmont and coastal watersheds.
Grants awarded will help protect 166 types of rare plants, animals and natural communities. Conservation projects will benefit 55 endangered or threatened plants and animals. More than $35 million in grants will go to rural and economically distressed counties.
“In addition to protecting water quality, these state investments will increase recreation opportunities, conserve wildlife habitat, preserve historic and cultural sites, and enhance quality of life,” said Reid Wilson, secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “This funding from the General Assembly and Governor demonstrates our state’s commitment to protecting our streams and natural areas for the benefit of communities in all 100 counties.”
John Wilson, chairman of the N.C. Land and Water Fund board, added: The board considered over 145 outstanding applications from our conservation partners for a wide variety of great projects throughout the state,” said . "We had to make tough choices because demand continues to far outpace our available funds. I’m confident that our process and deliberations resulted in grants that will pay dividends for the people of North Carolina for generations.”
A complete list of grant awards is available on the NCLWF website at https://nclwf.nc.gov/2022-nclwf-awards.
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Jill Doss-Raines is The Dispatch trending topics and personality profiles senior reporter and is always looking for tips about businesses and entertainment events, secret and new menu items, and interesting people in Davidson County. Contact me at jill.doss-raines@the-dispatch.com and subscribe to us at the-dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Dispatch: Waterway in Davidson County gets part of $70.3 million in state grants given to protect water and land.
