CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Now is the time for nonprofit groups and qualifying government agencies to apply for a portion of the $1.46 million that Duke Energy is offering in grants for fish and wildlife habitat projects during 2016.
The money can be used for a wide variety of enhancements, from planting shoreline vegetation and installing fish attractors to purchasing conservation easements and building wood duck boxes.
For the Catawba-Wateree system, which includes Lakes Wylie and Wateree, $725,000 is available for improvements in North Carolina and $340,000 for South Carolina.
Since 2007, nearly $1.75 million has been awarded for work that includes large reefs for fish habitat and nesting platforms for waterfowl. This portion of the program is funded by a fee charged to those individuals and residential marina developers who build piers on Catawba-Wateree lakes.
The Catawba-Wateree Habitat Enhancement Program is a cooperative effort by Duke Energy, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. For the Keowee-Toxaway system, which includes Lakes Keowee and Jocassee, $400,000 is available. During its first year of implementation in 2015, $15,000 was used to enhance fish and wildlife habitat. Funds also come from fees for development along the shorelines.
The Keowee-Toxaway Habitat Enhancement Program was formed as a result of Duke Energy entering into an agreement with 16 stakeholder organizations during the relicensing process by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
