Funding Database: NCLWF Acquisition Program

The NC Land and Water Fund (NCLWF) Acquisition Program funds can be used to purchase property in “fee simple,” meaning the purchaser owns the property outright or as a perpetual conservation agreement like an easement. 

Generally, NCLWF helps finance projects that:

• Enhance or restore degraded surface water, including drinking water supplies
• Contribute toward a network of riparian buffers — the land adjacent to streams and rivers
• Contribute toward a network of greenways for environmental, educational and recreational benefits
• Provide buffers around military bases to protect the military mission
• Acquire land that represents the ecological diversity of North Carolina
• Acquire land that contributes to the development of a balanced State program of historic properties 

NCLWF is a program of the Division of Land and Water Stewardship within the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NC DNCR).

Eligible Applicants

State agencies, local governments and nonprofits are eligible to apply. The primary focus of the nonprofits must be on the conservation, preservation or restoration of North Carolina’s cultural, environmental and natural resources.

Eligible Projects

NCLWF encourages land acquisitions within 300 feet from the top of a stream bank or within the 100-year floodplain. Purchases should contain natural areas, species of concern (as defined by North Carolina’s Natural Heritage Program) or be adjacent to land that is critical to the viability of those areas. Purchases can also serve as a natural habitat buffer around military installations or military training areas. Eligible projects can also help preserve sites where historic or cultural events occurred.

Funding Amount

The funding amount varies.

Match Requirements

A match is not required, but projects with little or no match are rarely funded.

Application Schedule

The NCLWF Acquisition Program has one grant cycle per year. The application form becomes available in January. The deadline to apply is March 1 of each year. NC DNCR announces award decisions each fall.

Application Process

Applicants apply online. The application requires a location map, property map and a GIS shapefile of the parcel and conservation agreement boundary (if different). A current letter of intent, a purchase option or a purchase contract signed by the landowner is expected at time of application.

Application Assistance

Field representatives are the first line of contact for general questions and for developing projects. Getting the field representative involved early will yield better results for your application and contract process.

Funding Source

The North Carolina General Assembly funds the NCLWF through state appropriations.