Environmentally Speaking

DWR biologists release preliminary analysis of Hurricane Helene’s impacts to insects in waterways

A preliminary assessment of insect communities in waterways of western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene demonstrated that in most waterbodies sampled, the variety of species as well as the number of each insect species was generally comparable to before the hurricane. It also identified a few waterways that had declines in the variety of insect species and abundances.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

International Day of Women and Girls in Science was earlier this week and we want to take a moment to highlight some of the incredible women across our agency!

Field site students conduct research at the Rachel Carson Reserve in Beaufort for their capstone project.

Research was conducted on the east end of Carrot Island, one of five islands that make up the Rachel Carson Reserve. Experiments were conducted in the maritime forest, salt marsh, shorelines and on the living shoreline structure. (Photograph by Josh Himmelstein)

How do birds cope with extreme temperatures?

How do birds adjust to stay cool on 100-degree summer days? What about during the winter when it can reach below freezing? Juan Zuluaga is on a mission to find out.

Marine Patrol Drone Helps Lawmen on the Ground Find Suspect Hiding in the Woods

Jan. 9 is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, and we’re touting some of the feats of our N.C. Marine Patrol, part of DEQ’s Division of Marine Fisheries.

In Fond Memory of John O. Fussell III

The North Carolina Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve is thankful for John’s friendship and long-term unwavering service to the preservation and appreciation of North Carolina’s coastal natural resources. We are particularly grateful for his professional and volunteer work on Reserve sites, and to honor him, we would like to reflect on highlights of his years of work in these natural areas.

Summer 2025 Internship Opportunities

Spread the word! The North Carolina Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve has three internship positions open. Interested applicants can learn more about the Reserve on our website and our social media channels.

From the Sea to the Mountains

The Marine Patrol Swift Water Rescue Team deployed for about a week to the western North Carolina to assist with Hurricane Helene safety efforts. This was the first deployment of the Swift Water Rescue Team, certified in 2021 after several years of training, that resulted in real-life safety missions and rescues.

Division of Water Resources staff gain accolades for Walnut Creek Watershed Action Team leadership

DWR employees working on the Walnut Creek Watershed Action Team received a letter of recognition from U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross, D-2nd, on May 15. This recognition was to congratulate the team on winning the 2024 Raleigh Environmental Stewardship Award on April 19 from the City of Raleigh’s Environmental Awards.

Summer 2024 N.C. Coastal Reserve Interns

Interns in our Northern Sites and Southern Sites offices completed their internship in August. We asked them to reflect on this summer’s experiences. Keep reading to hear how their internship experiences shaped them, they've got some great stories to share!

Working to Reintroduce and Stabilize Seabeach Amaranth Populations

Seabeach amaranth is a federally threatened plant species that is native to the North Carolina coast.  This important species contributes to the natural building of dune systems and acts as an indicator of healthy beach ecosystems along the U.S. Atlantic coast.

NC Stream Watch pilot spring cohort successfully wraps up

Nine educators were the first cohort of a new virtual education program by NC Stream Watch, an outreach and education program of the Division of Water Resources (DWR). The program offers information on water resource management. In addition, at the completion of the program, participating educators get access to a North Carolina science standards-aligned curriculum for teaching about water quality, quantity and the importance of conservation.

The Life Cycle of a Water Sample

The DWR Ambient Monitoring System and Random Ambient Monitoring System programs provide data that keep track of water quality measures across North Carolina’s river basins.

DWR Aquatic Weed staff release carp to control hydrilla

DWR’s Aquatic Weed Control Program received permits from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) to stock sterile grass carp in certain lakes this spring in central and western North Carolina to control hydrilla, an invasive aquatic plant.

Summer 2024 Rachel Carson Reserve Interns

This summer, the Rachel Carson Reserve had three outstanding interns. They contributed to our mission and learned a lot along the way. Below they each share a bit of advice or memories from their experience.