The Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) was one of the casualties of the N.C. House budget passed June 28.

Earlier this year, the Senate passed a bill, introduced by Dan Robinson (D-Cullowhee) and co-sponsored by Steve Metcalf (D-Asheville) and Charles Carter (D-Asheville), that would increase the CWMTF from $30 million this year to $40 million in fiscal year 2001-2002; $70 million in fiscal year 2002-2003; and $100 million in fiscal year 2003-2004. The House version funds CWMTF at $20 million per year.

The CWMTF was established in 1996 and was funded, by law, at 6.5 percent of the unreserved credit balance in North Carolina’s General Fund, or a minimum of $30 million. The CWMTF allocates this revenue in the form of grants to local governments, state agencies and conservation non-profits to finance projects that specifically address water pollution problems. These projects are designed to enhance or restore degraded waters, protect unpolluted waters and/or contribute to a network of riparian buffers and greenways for educational, environmental and recreational benefits.

“Twenty million dollars per year is inadequate to address North Carolina’s $10.5 billion water quality needs,” said Bill Holman, executive director of the CWMTF.

According to Holman, CWMTF will review over $100 million worth of grant requests this summer and fall. These requests include funds to continue efforts of county and state health departments to eliminate straight piping in 11 mountain counties; stream and buffer restoration work in the Hiawassee River watershed; planning for greenways in Jackson County; and the purchase of four trout ponds in Graham County that are polluting Lake Santeetlah.

Western North Carolina has benefited greatly from the CWMTF. Since its inception, CWMTF has funded over $25.5 million worth of projects in the French Broad river basin; $2.1 million in the Hiawassee river basin and $6.3 million in the Little Tennessee river basin. Haywood Waterways Association received $677,555 in funding this year to continue its restoration work in Haywood County.

Tom Massie, CWMTF’s western field representative, said he has 12 projects under review in WNC for fiscal year 2001-2002. Seven of the projects are acquisitions, including the trout farms in Graham County, five are restoration projects, two are planning projects and there is one wastewater project and one stormwater project.

While proposed budget cuts are troubling, Massie believed his job was to review and prioritize the projects in his region.

“There’s never enough money,” Massie said.

The House budget goes to the Senate-House conference committee on July 17. Sen. Robinson said the Senate would like to find a way to restore the CWMTF budget. He said the budget was “tight,” and lawmakers would have to be cautious about where funding might be found.

“A lot of people in the legislature are very supportive. I haven’t talked to anyone who doesn’t recognize the need,” said Robinson.

Robinson said the CWMTF has been very beneficial in WNC and has assisted in funding many needed projects.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News