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Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds

Restoration- NC Wetlands Restoration Program

Category: Wetland

Cost: Information not provided.

Description: The NC Wetlands Restoration Program (NCWRP) is an innovative, nonregulatory program established by the NC General Assembly in 1996 to restore wetlands, streams and streamside (riparian) areas throughout the state. The goals of the NCWRP are:

To protect and improve water quality through restoration of wetland, stream and riparian area functions and values lost through historic, current and future impacts;

To achieve a net increase in wetland acreage, functions and values in all of North Carolina's major river basins;

To Promote a comprehensive approach for the protection of natural resources; and

To provide a consistent approach to address compensatory mitigation requirements associated with wetland, stream, and buffer regulations, and to increase the ecological effectiveness of compensatory mitigation projects.

Outcome: There are many agencies and programs implementing and funding stream, wetland, and buffer restoration projects across North Carolina. However, the North Carolina Wetland Restoration Program (NCWRP) is the only program that uses a systematic approach to set restoration priorities based on restoration need and restoration opportunity. Detailed planning allows the NCWRP to focus its resources on projects that have the greatest likelihood for improving water quality, floodwater retention, habitat, and recreational opportunities. In addition, by accepting compensatory mitigation payments, the NCWRP is able to implement large-scale projects that might otherwise go unfunded due to limited resources.

In 1997-1998, the NCWRP completed Basinwide Wetlands and Riparian Restoration Plans for each of the 17 major river basins. Since that time, NCWRP has been updating the plans in accordance with the Division of Water Quality Basinwide Water Quality Plan five-year update schedule. The NCWRP is currently updating Restoration Plans for the Tar-Pamlico, Catawba, French Broad, New, Cape Fear, and Roanoke River Basins.

Contact: Ron Ferrell, Director, NCDENR/DWQ/Wetlands Restoration Program, 1619 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1619, 919-733-5219, Ron.Ferrell@ncmail.net

Citation: http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/wrp/index.htm