North Carolina Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Update

A tool for identifying and securing funding for wetland conservation priorities receives an important update.

Since passage of the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act of 1965, preparation of a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) has been required for states to be eligible for LWCF acquisition and development grants. The plan contents and format are shaped by the planning guidelines of the LWCF Act. One of the main format requirements is a “wetlands priority” section that summarizes the history, current state, current legal standing, ecosystem services benefits and recreational opportunities associated with the wetlands in North Carolina.

Biohabitats was engaged to research and update the 2020-2025 SCORP for the 2025-2030 time period. That research indicated that over two-thirds of pre-colonial wetlands in North Carolina have been lost, and a substantial portion of those acres were lost in the past five years. Additional information that the research updated included the legal status of jurisdictional wetlands based on Supreme Court and State rulings, wetland mitigation procedures, wetland categorization at the state level, ecosystem services, and wetland areas protected by the state. The SCORP provides a valuable tool for identifying wetland conservation priorities and securing funding to protect wetlands for future generations.

TAGS

• Analysis+Planning
• Policy, Program + System Support
• Climate Adaptation + Resilience
• Conservation