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Update on NC 319 NPS Grant Program (Division of Water Resources)

This program aims to restore impaired waters in North Carolina, addressing nonpoint source pollution through watershed restoration. Learn about projects, funding, and federal requirements for the successful restoration of water quality.

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Update on NC 319 NPS Grant Program (Division of Water Resources)

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  1. Heather Jennings Nonpoint Source Planning July 12, 2017 Update on NC 319 NPS Grant Program(Division of Water Resources)

  2. Genesis of Federal 319 Program • 1987 Clean Water Act amendments • Objective: Restore impaired waters, remove from NC 303(d) list • States to identify causes of NPS pollution • Create management programs to address • Program implementation grants to states • 1st large scale watershed project in NC — • 1990 Long Creek Watershed National Monitoring Program • Subsequent 319-funded restoration work

  3. Coarse Comparison of Funding -Point Source vs Nonpoint Source in NC FY 2017 Nonpoint Source 319h Funds $3,616,000 FY 2017 State Revolving Funds CWSRF + DWSRF 24,113,000 + 19,449,000 = $ 43,562,000

  4. Congressional 319 Grant Appropriation Over Time

  5. How Are 319 Grant Funds Used? • North Carolina’s FY 2017 Award: $3.6million • Competitive grant projects to implement approved watershed restoration plans • Staff working to manage nonpoint source pollution • Address a wide range of NPS sources: • Agriculture • Forestry • Mining • Septic • Urban stormwater • Stream degradation Department of Environmental Quality

  6. Challenges

  7. Funds Split Between Staff, Restoration Projects • NPS-related staff in several agencies • NC Department of Environmental Quality • 20.5 DWR Positions, 1 DEMLR Sediment • NC Department of Agriculture – 1 DSWC, 3.5 NC Forest Service • NC Department of Health & Human Services – 1 Onsite Department of Environmental Quality

  8. Overview of Restoration Project Funding • Federal requirements: • Impaired water or water meets listing requirements • Implement approved watershed restoration plan per 9 key elements (DWR Watershed Restoration Plan Map)

  9. Watershed Restoration Project Requirements • Eligible applicants: state agencies, local and regional governments, municipalities, universities, nonprofits • On-ground implementation of approved plans only • All NPS categories eligible: Agriculture, Urban Stormwater, Construction, Forestry, Onsite Wastewater • 40% match required • Projects limited to three years • Seeking measurable results • Statewide distribution of projects • Project awards range from $20,000 to $200,000

  10. EPA’s 9 Elements of a Watershed Restoration Plan • ID causes and sources of pollution • Estimate load reductions from practices • Mgmt. practices needed to achieve load reductions • Estimate technical and financial resources needed • Info/ed component - public awareness/participation • Implementation schedule • Interim milestones • Criteria: determining load reductions/progress • Monitoring: evaluate effectiveness

  11. Watershed Plans and Projects Statewide Department of Environmental Quality

  12. NPS Project Types Funded Since 1990 Department of Environmental Quality

  13. Restoration Projects Since 2013 Guidance Change

  14. Program Successes - To date, 21 NC success stories approved by USEPA - Restored for at least one parameter https://www.epa.gov/nps/nonpoint-source-success-stories

  15. Traits of Successful Watershed Restoration Projects • Structural: Sustained presence of watershed coordinator—align technical, organizational, budgetary, inspirational elements • Fiscal: Diverse and ongoing funding • Social: Gaining community ownership of restoration initiative (can require a cultural shift) • Technical: Evaluating problems, identifying needs, achieving the right practices in the right places - high priority for water quality and feasible for community • Organizational: Commitment to maintain projects, activities • Intangible: Development of novel relationships among watershed actors

  16. Questions? Heather.b.Jennings@ncdenr.gov https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/planning/nonpoint-source-management/319-grant-program Department of Environmental Quality

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