H.B. 927 Summary

• Appropriates $4,750,000 to Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the Agriculture Cost Share Program ($4,000,000), Community Conservation Assistance Program ($500,000), and hemlock restoration programs ($250,000) for fiscal year 2021-2022.

• Appropriates $570,000 to Department of Environmental Quality for landslide mapping program continuation ($370,000) and restart of the Waste Detection Elimination program for groundwater contamination remediation ($200,000).

• Appropriates $10,000,000 to Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Land and Water Fund for conservation easements protecting open spaces, viewsheds, and water quality in Western North Carolina (defined as Cleveland, Burke, Caldwell, Wilkes, Alleghany Counties and all counties west thereof).

• Appropriates $825,000 in nonrecurring funds to Parks and Recreation Trust Fund for five outdoor recreation projects including river paddle trails in Watauga County, Bryson City, and Andrews, and fishing access in Shelby and Bakersville; waives matching fund requirements for these projects.

• Appropriates $100,000 for Ward's Mill Dam removal on Watauga River and $150,000 for Green River Game Lands public access improvements; bill becomes effective July 1, 2021.