In total, the grants will support 117 projects protecting 27,157 acres, of which nearly 21,000 will eventually open for public recreation. Funds were also given to 37 projects that will restore or enhance 36 miles of waterways and restore more than 8,000 acres of drained wetlands. Additional projects focus on stormwater management and conservation planning. 

Awards given to projects in the seven western counties include:

• $137,223 to Mainspring Conservation Trust for a land acquisition project at Mason Branch Wetland at Valley River in Cherokee County. 

• $230,541 to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission for a land acquisition project at Kelly Cove at Needmore Game Land in Macon County. 

• $209,078 to Mainspring Conservation Trust for a land acquisition project at Klatt Wetland at Little Tennessee River in Macon County. 

• $66,550 to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission for a land acquisition project at Simp Gap Access on Rines Creek in Graham County. 

• $184,620 to Mainspring Conservation Trust for a land acquisition project at Polecat Ridge on Bradley Creek in Macon County. 

• $236,511 to Mainspring Conservation Trust for a land acquisition project at Mull Creek in the Caney Fork Headwaters in Jackson County. 

• $259,099 to Mainspring Conservation Trust for a land acquisition project at High Knob in the Caney Fork headwaters. 

• $129,101 to Mainspring Conservation Trust for the King Meadows III land acquisition project at Squally Creek. 

• $4.7 million to Mainspring Conservation Trust for the Amazing Grace Complex land acquisition project at Big Ridge in Jackson County.

• $154,000 to Mainspring Conservation Trust for a restoration project at Bartram Wetlands on the Little Tennessee River in Macon County. 

• $25,300 to the Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy for an eastern hellbender restoration project in Macon County. 

• $83,500 to MountainTrue for an ecological enhancement project at Island Park in Swain County. 

• $200,000 to Haywood Waterways Association for an upper Pigeon River flood mitigation planning project in Haywood County. 

Since its creation in 1996 by the General Assembly, the North Carolina Land and Water Fund, formerly known as the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, has conserved well over one-half million acres and protected or restored 3,000 miles of streams and rivers.