The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the North Carolina Land and Water Fund (NCLWF) have allocated $1.1 million for three flood risk reduction projects in Dunn, Clyde, and Smithfield. These projects are part of the Flood Resiliency Blueprint, a statewide plan to address flooding in North Carolina. The projects will restore more than 1.29 miles of stream and 50 acres of floodplain. They will also retrofit a stormwater pond to help manage floodwaters.
DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson stated that these investments aim to help communities reduce vulnerability to severe weather. Will Summer, executive director of the NCLWF, said the partnership helps meet community needs and speeds up the use of DEQ funds.
The funded projects are: the Stony Run Corridor Restoration Project in Dunn, which will restore 0.81 miles of stream and 45 acres of wetlands; the Pigeon River at Clyde Flood Resiliency Project, which will restore 0.48 miles of stream and 5.3 acres of floodplain; and the College Pond Retrofit Project in Smithfield, which will upgrade a stormwater pond. The projects received $270,500, $210,500, and $658,351, respectively…