N.C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP)
What is CCAP?
A voluntary, incentive-based program designed to improve water quality through the installation of various best management practices (BMPs) on urban, suburban and rural lands, not directly involved in agricultural production. CCAP consists of educational, technical and financial assistance provided to landowners by local soil and water conservation districts.
Who is eligible?
Eligible landowners may include: homeowners, businesses, schools, parks, churches, and community groups. Essentially, all private and publicly owned lands are eligible for the program.
How does CCAP work?
Interested landowners submit applications to their local soil and water conservation districts. Applications will be ranked based on local water quality priorities. If eligible, a conservation plan is prepared for the applicant to install the BMP (a landscaper may be used). The landowner may be reimbursed up to 75 percent of the pre-established average cost of the BMP.
What BMPs would be useful for Estuarine Shoreline Stabilization?
Riparian buffers area areas of native trees and shrubs located adjacent to a body of water. These buffers serve as a barrier to nonpoint source pollution from stormwater. Buffers also filter runoff, control flooding, protect property from erosion and provide essential wildlife habitat.
Streambank and Shoreline Protection
Streambank and shoreline protection is the use of vegetation to stabilize and prevent erosion of the banks of streams, lakes or their waterways. This BMP restores the natural function of the stream and improves water quality. Erosion leads to sediment buildup, loss of habitat, flooding, loss of property and poor water quality. This practice prevents erosion, restores wildlife habitat, reduced flooding and filters polluted runoff.
Marsh Sills protect estuarine shorelines from erosion, combining engineered structures with natural vegetation to maintain, restore, or enhance the shoreline’s natural habitats. A sill is a coast-parallel, long or short structure built with the objective of reducing the wave action on the shoreline by forcing wave breaking over the sill. Sills are used to provide protection for existing coastal marshes, or to retain sandy fill between the sill and the eroding shoreline, to establish suitable elevations for the restoration or establishment of coastal marsh and/or riparian vegetation.
How much incentive is CCAP?
Riparian Buffer - Reimburses up to 75% of Actual Cost of the Approved Project
Streambank and Shoreline Protection - Reimburses up to 75% of the Actual Cost of Approved Project
Marsh Sills - Reimburses up to 75% of Actual Costs of the Approved Project up to $5000
How do I get started?
Contact your local soil and water district employee (see the below link to determine your district). They will be able to determine what your property is eligible for and help put together an application.