Press Releases

Do you have questions about new management measures passed in the Oyster and Hard Clam Fishery Management Plan amendments? The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries staff have developed flyers and frequently asked questions webpages to answer those questions. Click the image below to view an expanded flyer.

Amid summer’s high temperatures, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Water Resources (DWR) reminds the public to avoid contact with discolored water that could indicate the presence of an algal bloom.

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission will meet July 9-10 in the Ground Floor Hearing Room of the Archdale Building in Raleigh. Members of the public may attend in-person or join the meeting by computer or phone. 

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office are urging the public to act responsibly during the upcoming July Fourth holiday at the Masonboro Island Reserve, a research reserve and dedicated state nature preserve. In preparation for the holiday, the state coastal agency and the sheriff’s office are working together to provide public safety resources and increase public awareness of responsible visitor behavior on the island.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified a new state record for Almaco Jack (Seriola rivoliana).

The North Carolina Mining Commission and its rules committee are scheduled to hold meetings this month, which will be available to the public in Raleigh or online.

State recreational water quality officials today lifted a water quality swimming advisory at a sound-side site in Carteret County.

State recreational water quality officials today lifted a water quality swimming advisory for a sound-side swimming area in Dare County.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries recently established a new state record for the Mutton Snapper (Lutjanus analis).

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Dam Safety Program, with help from Applied Weather Associates (AWA), is releasing the state’s first Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) study and evaluation tool, which is designed to better prepare for future storms and their possible impact on dams in the state.

State recreational water quality officials today lifted water quality swimming advisories for four sound-side swimming areas in Beaufort County.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Infrastructure is accepting comments until June 30, 2025 on a draft Intended Use Plan (IUP) and Priority Rating System for funding assistance for decentralized wastewater treatment systems in Hurricane Helene-affected areas.

The Master Plan Update Committee of the State Water Infrastructure Authority will meet in person and via teleconference on Thursday, June 26, from 1-2:30 pm.

North Carolina is drought-free in the latest advisory issued Thursday by the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC), marking the first time since Oct. 15 that the state has been free of drought or abnormally dry conditions.

N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) advises the public to avoid contact with green or blue water in Lake Norman due to algal blooms that have lingered in the area since June 16.