Chapter 6 Conservation Goals and Priorities
The NC General Assembly charged the NCDEQ to develop, adopt, and implement plans and strategies to protect and restore fisheries habitats ( see G.S. 143B-279.8 ) . The plans are to be drafted by the agencies responsible for managing fisheries, water quality, and coastal management, with the NCDMF as the lead agency for development of the plans. These strategies and supporting scientific background information are reported in the NC Coastal Habitat Protection Plan (CHPP), which is organized across six key estuarine and marine fisheries habitats. Each chapter includes a characterization of the habitat, its distribution, fish use, ecological benefits, status, trends, and threats, as well as management and research needs. The CHPP is reviewed and approved by the CHPP Steering Committee, which consists of two members of the Environmental Management Commission, Coastal Resources Commission, and the various Marine Fisheries Councils. After the CHPP Steering Committee approves the plan, each associated full commission can review and approve. The CHPP Steering Committee also meets regularly to enhance communication and discussion of cross-cutting and emerging coastal habitat issues, review the CHPP biennial implementation plans, and discuss progress on implementation actions. The plan was initially completed and then approved in late 2004 and 2010, respectively, and will continue to be updated in five-year cycles. The NCWRC voluntarily joined as a participating commission in 2006 due to common issues regarding migrating fish species that use both coastal and inland waters. 6.5.3.4 NC Division of Mitigation Services (NCDMS) The mission of North Carolina Division of Mitigation Services is to restore, enhance, and protect the state’s wetlands, streams, and streamside buffers, to improve the state’s compensatory mitigation process for unavoidable impacts to wetlands and streams. NCDMS will identify and implement projects within the context of a watershed approach based on multiple scales of planning, provide functional replacement based on watershed needs through stream, buffer, and wetlands projects, and provide watershed planning and project implementation in advance of impacts. The NC Watershed Restoration Plans are key to NCDMS efforts and are available on its website https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-planning/nonpoint-source- planning/319-grant-program/nc-watershed-restoration-plans. 6.5.3.5 NC Division of Water Resources (NCDWR) The North Carolina Division of Water Resources (NCDWR) is the state agency responsible for statewide regulatory programs in surface water and groundwater protection. The mission of the NCDWR is implemented through water quality monitoring programs, efficient permitting, responsible management, fair and effective enforcement, and excellence in public service. The NCDWR accomplishes these goals by collaborating with other agencies to develop appropriate management strategies, assuring equitable distribution of waste assimilative capacity, evaluating the cumulative effects of pollution, and improving public awareness and involvement.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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