Governor Josh Stein announced $6 million in grants from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Flood Resiliency Blueprint program to help reduce flood risks throughout the state. The announcement was made in Marshall and includes projects aimed at restoring the French Broad River Basin, which experienced significant flooding from Hurricane Helene last fall. Funding will support 11 projects in the river basins of the Cape Fear, French Broad, Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, and Lumber rivers.
“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 Josh Stein. “We must stay prepared for future severe weather events, and this funding will help communities become more resilient and less vulnerable to flooding.”
DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson commented on the importance of continued efforts to strengthen resilience against flooding. “Recent storm events, including Hurricane Helene, have highlighted the need for continued flood resilience initiatives across North Carolina,” said Wilson. “These targeted investments will strengthen resilience and help local governments reduce the costs, extent, damage, and disruption from flooding events.”
The grant funding comes from DEQ’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint. Projects were selected in partnership with the department’s Division of Water Resources. The Blueprint was established by direction of the North Carolina General Assembly and is part of a larger $76 million effort to support flood mitigation projects in several river basins across the state.
Projects supported by this round of grants include:
– In the Cape Fear River Basin, the Town of Apex will receive $1.4 million to restore stream channel along Beaver Creek near Apex Nature Park.
– In the French Broad River Basin, Yancey County Soil and Water Conservation District will receive $100,000 for stream restoration and water storage in a residential area affected by Hurricane Helene. The Land of Sky Regional Council will get $789,000 for riverbank restoration in Madison County. The Southwestern Commission will receive $110,000 for work along the Pigeon River in Haywood County.
– In the Lumber River Basin, the City of Lumberton will receive $748,000 to install culverts and stormwater management features along Linkhaw Road.
– In the Neuse River Basin, several projects are funded: The City of Wilson will receive $395,000 for stormwater pond improvements and $324,000 for wetland construction. Wake County Soil and Water Conservation District will receive $70,000 for stream restoration. Durham County will get $600,000 for floodplain water storage improvements at Little Lick Creek.
– In the Tar-Pamlico River Basin, Dare County will receive $65,000 for stormwater drainage improvements along N.C. 12. The Town of Nashville will receive $1.25 million to restore floodway property and add water storage on Stony Creek.
The North Carolina Flood Resiliency Blueprint was created in 2021 by order of the General Assembly to guide statewide planning for flood resilience. It is based on scientific research and stakeholder engagement and features an online tool to help communities plan and prioritize projects. Since its inception, DEQ has funded 72 projects through this program totaling over $35 million.
