Title
Grant Application - North Carolina Department of Justice - Environmental Enhancement Grant Program
Action
ACTION:
1) Authorize the County Manager to apply for NC Department of Justice Environmental Enhancement Grant (EEG) Program grant funding of up to $290,000 to be used for the construction of freshwater mussel habitat in Reedy Creek and the re-colonization of freshwater mussels into Reedy Creek and other existing restored streams.
2) If awarded, recognize, receive and appropriate the award amount to the (G705) state funds.
3) Adopt a grant project ordinance for the North Carolina Department of Justice - Environmental Enhancement Grant Program Grant in the (G705) state funds.
4) Authorize the County Manager to execute contract(s) with the NC Department of Justice.
Staff Contact: Tim Trautman, LUESA - Storm Water Services
Presentation: No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
The County’s Storm Water Capital Improvement Program (CIP) began restoring Mecklenburg County creeks and floodplains to improve water quality in 1997. The program is funded with revenue from Storm Water fees. These natural infrastructure investments have many other benefits to greenway systems, increasing native plants/trees, open space, aesthetic improvements, and corridors for wildlife. The projects have resulted in documented improvements to fish and aquatic insect populations. In 2022, Storm Water Services (STW) in partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFW) and Park and Recreation (P&R) conducted a pilot effort to reintroduce freshwater mussels into the Stevens Creek CIP project area in Mint Hill, NC. The effort was highly successful and STW seeks to recreate the success in additional CIP project areas in the County.
Staff seeks to pursue a grant from the NC Department of Justice (NC DOJ) for the design and construction of six freshwater mussel specific habitat features in the upcoming Reedy Creek Stream Restoration project (project grant previously approved b...
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