PRESS RELEASE
January 8, 2019
Great Coharie River Initiative is one of eleven beneficiaries of the Water Resources Fund
The Great Coharie River Initiative received a $82,150 grant to continue its commitment to protecting and enhancing Sampson County waterways and the local environment. The grant is part of the Water Resources Fund, a $10 million commitment from Duke Energy. Learn more at duke-enery.com/H2O.
The Coharie Intra Tribal Council is one of 11 organizations across North and South Carolina to collectively receive more than $800,000 in the eighth grant announcement. Water Resources Fund is a multi-year commitment that will leave a legacy of improved water quality, river access and conservation in Sampson County.
“This grant will help secure strategic access points along the Great Coharie River, employ a contemporary water monitoring system, support ongoing debris and beaver management components, and enhance educational activities,” said Philip Bell, Great Coharie River Initiative coordinator. “We thank Duke Energy for its support and are eager to launch this project so that we can continue serving our local scenic waterways.”
The Great Coharie River Initiative in partnership with Friends of Sampson County Waterways are eager to make the navigable waters of Sampson County some of the best in the state. This generous Duke Energy grant will move the concerted effort forward in that endeavor.
“Duke Energy is dedicated to protecting and restoring the rivers and waterways that power our regional economies,” said Stephen De May, president of Duke Energy in North Carolina. “We look forward to our partnership with the Great Coharie River Initiative and the impact this project will have in the region.”
Investment decisions are carefully reviewed by the Water Resources Fund committee, an independent body that includes five environmental experts and two Duke Energy employees. Selected projects are chosen on several criteria, including whether the project is science-based and research-supported.
