Project Grant 03D20024

This Project Grant award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 under the National Estuary Program (CFDA 66.456) provides $850,000 to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) to support implementation of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the Albemarle-Pamlico estuary. The funded activities will include developing an integrated monitoring strategy, creating a water quality reporting tool, and conducting research on water clarity metrics and submerged aquatic vegetation. These efforts aim to address key challenges facing the estuary, coordinate CCMP implementation among partners, and monitor the effectiveness of conservation activities. Anticipated deliverables include reports, presentations, and publicly available data to enhance the capacity for estuarine habitat protection and management across North Carolina.