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Mills River Council authorizes DWR grant application to stabilize park expansion riverbank
Summary
The Mills River Town Council adopted Resolution 2026-14 authorizing staff to apply for a Division of Water Resources Water Resources Development Grant to stabilize riverbanks on town property. The grant would be ~ $400,000 (50/50 match) with the town matching $200,000 from capital reserves.
The Mills River Town Council voted to adopt Resolution 2026-14 authorizing staff to apply for a North Carolina Division of Water Resources (DWR) Water Resources Development Grant to perform riverbank stabilization on the town-owned park expansion property.
Town Manager Matthew McCarahan told council the application would seek about $400,000 in DWR funds requiring a $200,000 local match. He said that if awarded the grant would be reimbursement-based and the town would initially pay costs and seek reimbursement, with an estimated reimbursement timeline of about 30 days. McCarahan said the town intends to fund its match from the $750,000 set aside in the FY27 capital project reserve for the park expansion.
Environmental consultant Greg Jennings, of Jennings Environmental, described the project’s scope: "The river banks are 8 to 10 ft high. They're undermined and they're collapsing," he said, explaining crews would remove trees that are prone to falling, regrade banks and plant a 50-foot buffer. Jennings said the DWR program is a 50/50 reimbursement grant and that the work would be limited to town-owned property; privately owned parcels on the north side of the river would not be included.
Staff clarified the DWR grant would fund a planted buffer (a 50-foot planted buffer, not an easement or dedication to the state) and would not impose a deed restriction; the town would continue to own and manage the property. The presenters also said Army Corps permitting and applicable state and local ordinances would be part of the project permitting process.
Council members asked about future recreational access; Jennings said access for canoes, kayaks, swimming, fishing and tubing could be designed in and that the project would allow a future walking path, though details would be determined only after funding, contracting and design. McCarahan and staff indicated a likely fall notification of award, with construction potentially beginning in spring.
The resolution was moved and seconded and the council approved the application authorization by voice vote; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript.
Next steps: staff will proceed with the DWR grant application, pursue required permits and, if awarded, move toward design and a spring construction timeline tied to the town’s FEMA-related river projects.
