Environment (Coastal & Flood Protection)

SB 734 clarifies that specific man-made ditches - such as roadside ditches, culverts, and storm channels - are excluded from North Carolina's Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA). The bill defines "man-made ditches" in Section 1 and explicitly removes them from CAMA's coverage of estuarine waters, environmental concern areas, and public trust rights under Sections 2, 3, and 4. This means landowners and developers maintaining these ditches will no longer require CAMA permits for them. The bill focuses on clarifying existing law rather than creating new regulations. It directly affects activities involving minor drainage features in coastal zones.

HB 738 restores specific definitions for wetland protections in North Carolina by repealing prior legislative changes and reinstating the 2010 North Carolina Wetland Assessment Manual definitions. It explicitly defines "isolated wetlands" to include those confirmed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before June 2020 and wetlands classified as basins or bogs under the state's 2010 manual (excluding man-made stormwater features). The bill also clarifies that "wetlands" include waters meeting federal definitions (33 C.F.R. § 328.3 and 40 C.F.R. § 230.3) and the reinstated isolated wetland category. This directly affects developers, landowners, and local governments by determining which projects require wetland permits under state law. The policy change reinstates pre-2020 regulatory boundaries without creating new restrictions.

SB 639, the North Carolina Farm Act of 2025, updates agricultural water planning, addresses feral swine damage, and strengthens farm conservation protections. It requires the Department of Agriculture to revise the state’s agricultural water plan by 2026, including funding for water infrastructure, conservation practices, and flood mitigation. The bill creates a Feral Swine Working Group with industry and agency representatives to develop control strategies and report annually, while also mandating 100-foot vegetative buffers around protected farm tracts in new subdivisions. Local governments gain authority to deny development permits that would negatively impact agricultural production, directly affecting farmers, landowners, and municipal planning decisions.

SB 665 streamlines permitting for upland basins (marinas built on elevated land, not open water, that accommodate 10+ vessels) by requiring state agencies to approve applications within 60 days unless specific compliance issues are identified. Projects must meet strict water quality standards (including pre-development dissolved oxygen levels), limit wetland impacts to 5% of basin area, include 30-foot vegetated buffers, and provide bonds covering five years of maintenance costs. This law directly affects developers of these facilities by creating clear environmental requirements and faster approval timelines while aiming to protect coastal resources. The bill establishes measurable standards for development, avoiding vague environmental claims through specific, enforceable criteria.