WAYNE COUNTY, N.C. — A Wayne County watershed restoration planning project is among the recipients of more than $28 million in grants awarded by the North Carolina Land and Water Fund to protect natural resources, improve water quality, and support conservation efforts across the state.
The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announced Monday, October 19, that Sound Rivers Inc. has been awarded $75,000 for the Pikeville Slough Watershed Restoration Plan in Wayne County.
The grant, identified as Project 2026-818, will support planning efforts focused on watershed restoration in the Pikeville area.
The Wayne County project is part of a larger statewide investment that includes 18 planning projects designed to identify important water quality and conservation opportunities in watersheds throughout North Carolina.
Conservation Funding Also Supports Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
In addition to the Pikeville Slough project, the statewide grant awards include funding to protect land near military installations, including Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro.
The North Carolina Land and Water Fund awarded a combined $5,233,630 for projects that will protect more than 2,315 acres near Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.
These conservation efforts are designed to provide buffers around military installations, training areas, and flight paths, helping protect military operations while preserving valuable natural resources.
According to state officials, North Carolina’s military sector contributes approximately $66 billion in economic activity annually.
More Than $28 Million Awarded Statewide
Governor Josh Stein praised the investments, emphasizing the importance of protecting North Carolina’s natural resources and drinking water.
“Every year, millions of residents and visitors enjoy North Carolina’s abundance of beautiful natural resources,” Stein said. “This funding will help us conserve those resources and protect clean drinking water for communities across the state.”
State officials say the grants will protect more than 10,000 acres of land, with much of that property eventually becoming available for public recreational activities such as hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, and birdwatching.
More than $22 million of the funding will benefit rural and economically distressed counties.
The grants will also support nine restoration projects involving more than five miles of streams, rivers, lakes, and estuaries, along with restoration of more than 900 acres of wetlands.
Additional projects will help reconnect more than 200 miles of fish spawning habitat in the Cape Fear River and its tributaries.
Protecting Resources for Future Generations
Pamela B. Cashwell, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, said the funding represents an important investment in the state’s environmental future.
“The Land and Water Fund plays a vital role in protecting North Carolina’s water quality, open spaces, and treasured cultural heritage,” Cashwell said. “These grants have been used in all 100 N.C. counties to preserve our unique natural and cultural resources for future generations.”
Competition for the funding was significant, with more than $90 million in grant requests submitted statewide.
“We had some really tough choices to make this year,” said Ann Browning, chair of the North Carolina Land and Water Fund Board of Trustees. “There were over $90 million in requests for funding, but we had under $30 million to award. There were so many great projects we just weren’t able to fund.”
The North Carolina Land and Water Fund receives appropriations from the General Assembly and provides grants to local governments, state agencies, and nonprofit organizations for projects that restore and protect natural and cultural resources.
For Wayne County, the $75,000 Pikeville Slough Watershed Restoration Plan grant and the conservation efforts near Seymour Johnson Air Force Base highlight the local impact of the statewide investment.
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