On March 18, several source water protection projects in North Carolina were selected as winners of the first annual Source Water Protection Awards from the North Carolina Source Water Collaborative. The awards, presented at the Water Resources Research Institute annual conference, recognized programs that demonstrate innovative and collaborative solutions to protect North Carolina’s drinking water sources and their connecting watersheds.
The Durham Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded for its accomplishments through the Upper Sandy Creek Watershed and Stream Restoration Project, a multi-year collaboration aimed at improving water quality, minimizing flood danger, and restoring ecological values to 3600 feet of stream. This project expects to reduce sediment loading in the Jordon Lake Reservoir by 100 tons per year. The Raleigh Public Utilities Department for the City of Raleigh Watershed Protection Program teamed with the Upper Neuse Water Initiative, agencies, and local partners to facilitate land acquisitions and other conservation measures to protect over 18,000 feet of streams impacting critical drinking water reservoirs. To read the NCPOLITCALNews.com article on the award ceremony and to see the full list of award winning projects, click here.
Want to start your own collaborative? Learn more about the North Carolina Source Water Collaborative and find out how to launch your own source water partnerships through the “How to Collaborate” toolkit, developed by the Source Water Collaborative.