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5 <br /> The North Carolina Wetlands Restoration Program: <br /> An Overview of the Local Watershed Planning Initiative <br /> AJA <br /> N.C. Wetlaotle ReatoratiocovEPropram <br /> Wbad ig the North Carol Pr000grram? <br /> The North Carolina Wetlands Restonation Program(NCWRP)was created by the <br /> NC General Assembly in 1996,for the purposes of restoring, creating, enhancing <br /> and preserving wetlands, streams and streamside buffers throughout the state. <br /> The NCWRP is a nonregulatory program housed In the Division of Water <br /> Quality, Department of Environment and Natural Resources. NCWRP goals <br /> include: improvement of water quality,fish and wildlife habitat,floodwater <br /> retention, pollution prevention, recreational resources and overall watershed <br /> functions within North Carolina's 17 major river basins. <br /> What is a Loral Watershed Plan <br /> Local Watershed Plans(LWPs)identify all factors contributing to water quality <br /> degradation within a watershed and provide strategies to address nonpolnt <br /> sources of pollution. One component of a LWP is the Identlficinon of sites far <br /> wetland, stream and abeamside buffer restoration. However,this is just one <br /> piece of the water quality pu=le. In most watersheds,wetland,stream and <br /> streamside buffer restoration alone will not be sufficient to improve water quality. <br /> Other nonpolnt sources of pollution, such as sionnwater runoff and failing septic <br /> systems, must be located and addressed through other types of water quality <br /> improvement project&. Acoirdingly, the solutions identified in LWPs include not <br /> only wetland, concern and streamside buffer restoation projects, but a <br /> comprehensive package of initiatives needed to successfully improve and protect <br /> water quality in the long term. <br />