Press Releases

The Topsail Nature Preserve, including its beaches and parking lot, will temporarily close to the public during the morning of Oct. 7 while a licensed contractor conducts herbicide treatment to control the highly invasive Common Reed (Phragmites australis).

The NC Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Water Resources has honored 66 water treatment plants for surpassing federal and state drinking water standards in 2025. The division’s Public Water Supply Section awarded the facilities the N.C. Area Wide Optimization Award, which is part of a state effort to enhance the performance of existing surface water treatment facilities.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality has received an innovation award from the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) for its work streamlining grant and loan application processes to repair and strengthen local governments’ drinking water and wastewater systems damaged by Hurricane Helene. 

Drought conditions in parts of the mountains and coast eased last week due to heavy rain in some areas, but most of North Carolina continued to remain in drought conditions as the trend of higher-than-average temperatures and below normal rain continued, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday. Because many river, reservoir and groundwater levels remain below normal, the public is encouraged to conserve water in areas categorized as being in the worst drought conditions.  

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries’ scoping period for Red Drum begins today, providing fishermen and other stakeholders an opportunity to share ideas on potential management strategies for the scheduled comprehensive review of the N.C. Red Drum Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

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

MOREHEAD CITY – State recreational water quality officials today lifted the precautionary advisory against swimming in ocean-side waters in Dare County affected by hazardous weather conditions caused by the recent nor’easter.

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. 

Two years ago, Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, taking more than 100 lives and causing an estimated $60 billion in damage. One of the top priorities at the NC Department of Environmental Quality has been helping communities recover and rebuild to make communities more resilient and safer when facing future disasters.

MOREHEAD CITY – Advisories against swimming were posted today at two sound-side sites in Carteret County, where state officials found bacteria levels in the water that exceed the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality standards.