The Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP) was authorized through Session Law 2011-145. The program is administered by the NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission through local soil and water conservation districts.
The purposes of the AgWRAP are to:
- Identify opportunities to increase water use efficiency, availability, and storage,
- Implement best management practices (BMPs) to conserve and protect water resources,
- Increase water use efficiency;
- Increase water storage and availability for agricultural purposes.
By taking action to increase water use efficiency, storage, and availability as well as conserve and protect water resources, landowners are directly contributing to the long-term resilience and sustainability of agriculture in North Carolina.
If you are a landowner or renter of an existing agricultural operation that has been operating for more than one year, you are eligible to participate. Cooperator must make less than $250,000 or have 75% or more of their income supported through agricultural operations.
The Soil and Water Conservation Commission allocates funds into two pools, the general District Allocations and the Regional Application Process. This split funding allows districts to implement local conservation projects using best management practices (BMPs) and to implement larger, more complex projects on a regional scale. Please refer to Regional Application Process webpage and the Detailed Implementation Plan for more information regarding allocations.
Applicants can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of a predetermined average cost or actual cost up to a cost cap for each BMP installed. The applicant is responsible for 25 percent of the costs. This may include the use of existing material and labor.