Hurricane Matthew caused extreme flooding of homes and farms in Bladen County. Due to the hurricane, fallen trees and sediment impeded the flow of water in area streams and rivers. This Golden LEAF grant supported the removal of storm debris from county waterways. The removal of trees and debris allowed these channels to flow more freely and reduced future flooding. The Bladen Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) had previously successfully removed trees and debris and restored and repaired streams in Bladen County following hurricanes. This project was a cooperative effort with Bladen County Government, Bladen SWCD, Bladen County Emergency Management, and Bladen County Planning Department. Bladen County also received $242,000 from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which was used for related debris removal.
