Press Releases

On Monday, September 25, a days-old wild horse, and resident of the Rachel Carson Reserve, was seen exhibiting signs of extreme distress. Paula Gillikin, NC Division of Coastal Management’s Coastal Reserve site manager for the Rachel Carson Reserve, examined the male foal at the Reserve. After consulting with the Reserve’s local equine veterinarian and the N.C. State College of Veterinary Medicine, the Division subsequently moved the horse from the Reserve for further examination and treatment.

State recreational water quality officials today lifted a precautionary swimming advisory in Emerald Isle. The advisory was lifted because floodwaters have rescinded, and pumping has ceased.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified the first state record Puddingwife Wrasse (Halichoeres radiatus), and the fish may break the world record, as well.

State recreational water quality officials today advised beachgoers to be aware of the floodwaters being pumped to the ocean surf in Emerald Isle. Surfers and swimmers should avoid these sites.

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

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is asking people to please be on the lookout for blue land crabs, Cardisoma guanhumi, and to report sightings. Blue land crabs are a non-native species to the Carolinas that look like an enormous fiddler crab.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Infrastructure announced today that 30 communities statewide will receive more than $34 million in funding for projects to find and replace lead service lines. North Carolina has approximately $67 million initially available for lead service line projects through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with additional funding available in future rounds.

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) will hold a specially called meeting Sept. 21 at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center, 203 South Front Street, New Bern. A public input and comment period is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. At the chair’s discretion, comments may be limited to three minutes per person. The meeting is open to the public.

The State Water Infrastructure Authority will meet Tuesday, Sept. 19 at the Steve Troxler Agricultural Sciences Center in Raleigh. The public may attend the meeting in person or listen online or by phone.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is looking for commercial and recreational fishermen, scientists, and other interested parties to sit on various fisheries advisory committees.