Press Releases

A week that saw parts of North Carolina receiving near or above average rainfall was not enough to improve drought conditions statewide, with the extreme drought worsening in parts of the northern Piedmont, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor report released on Thursday. Because many river, reservoir and groundwater levels are still below normal in these areas, the public is encouraged to conserve water. 

Wondering about the science behind management of state marine fisheries species? Check out the 2025 Fishery Management Plan Review, released today by the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF).

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has fixed a technical issue with the Observer Trip Scheduling System (OTSS) that had been affecting the system’s automated fisherman selection and confirmation number notifications.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified a new state record for the Jolthead Porgy (Calamus bajonado).

As the summer comes to an end and the Labor Day holiday is upon us, the NC 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.

MOREHEAD CITY – State recreational water quality officials today lifted a water quality swimming advisory at a sound-side site in Beaufort County.

The Division of Marine Fisheries’ scoping period for Kingfishes (sea mullet) begins today, providing fishermen and other stakeholders an opportunity to provide input about stock and fishery issues, and share ideas on management strategies for the scheduled 5-year review of the N.C. Kingfishes Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

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

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) is accepting applications for approximately $2.5 million in funding through Phases 3 and 4 of the N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP) to help coastal communities design and implement projects that strengthen local resilience to coastal hazards. Applications are due Nov. 10, 2026, by 5 p.m. 

The NC Environmental Management Commission will meet Sept. 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.