In 1998, the N.C. Wetlands Restoration Program (NCWRP) received a $262,723 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop a wetlands and riparian area restoration plan for the Falls Lake watershed of the upper Neuse River Basin. This plan, completed in 2003, is part of a larger regional watershed management plan being developed in cooperation with the Upper Neuse River Basin Association. The Upper Neuse River Basin Association is a regional consensus-based voluntary consortium of local governments having jurisdiction in the Falls Lake watershed. The goal of this consortium includes developing alternative approaches to achieve mandatory water quality and water resource protection of the eight water supplies within this watershed.

The EEP and Upper Neuse River Basin Association have identified the location of wetlands, riparian areas and potential restoration sites in the Falls Lake watershed. The next step assessed each existing wetland in terms of water quality, flood storage and habitat function, and estimating the potential functional capacity of restoration sites. With this information, local governments, Upper Neuse River Basin Association and the EEP can best identify restoration and preservation sites that are needed to meet water quality goals for the watershed.

The watershed plan developed by the Upper Neuse River Basin Association for the Falls Lake watershed, with the assistance of the EEP, will take a regional approach to watershed restoration and management. Baseline biological information has been gathered and the EEP and other Upper Neuse River Basin Association members will be prioritizing action strategies based on this data. The watershed plan should also form the basis for smaller scale cooperative efforts among local jurisdictions, the EEP and other partners. In addition, the Upper Neuse River Basin Association initiative will serve as a model for regional watershed management, moving from the individual watershed level to the broader regional watershed management level. The EEP and local governments will also be able to use the watershed plan as a common document to coordinate restoration and other activities to ensure the long-term protection of these water supplies. For additional information about the Upper Neuse River Basin Regional Watershed Plan, contact Michele Droszcz.