Press Releases

North Carolina’s Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) has expanded its Severe Drought category (D2 classification) for parts of 31 counties as of Nov. 7. Impacted counties range from Cherokee County in the west to Moore County in the east. Severe Drought is the second category of the four drought classifications based on the U.S. Drought Monitor. Portions of an additional 39 counties in western North Carolina are considered to be in Moderate Drought category (D1 classification).

The North Carolina Sedimentation Control Commission will meet at 10 a.m. on Nov. 16. Members of the public may attend in-person or join the meeting by computer or phone.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Standard Commercial Fishing License Eligibility Board will meet by teleconference at 10 a.m. Nov. 13. The board will consider one license application that was tabled at the Oct. 25 meeting.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet in-person Nov. 15-17 at the Islander Hotel and Resort, 102 Islander Dr., Emerald Isle. The meeting will also be livestreamed on YouTube.

North Carolina’s Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) has expanded its Severe Drought category (D2 classification) for parts of 15 counties as of Oct. 31.

The North Carolina Oil and Gas Commission is conducting a periodic review of the geophysical exploration rules as required by state statute and is accepting public comment through January 8, 2024.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)’s Division of Water Resources will hold a public hearing on December 6 on the adoption of proposed final rules for three grant programs: the Aquatic Weed Control Fund, Coastal Storm Mitigation Fund and the Shallow Draft Navigation Channel Dredging Fund. Comments will also be accepted until Jan. 2, 2024.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Commercial Resource Fund Committee and the Funding Committee for the N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund will meet jointly by web conference on Nov. 7 at 6 p.m.

North Carolina’s Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) has introduced its Severe Drought category (D2 classification) for parts of Cleveland, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania counties.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources has honored 72 water treatment plants for surpassing federal and state drinking water standards in 2022. The division’s Public Water Supply Section awarded the facilities the prestigious N.C. Area Wide Optimization Award, which is part of a state effort to enhance the performance of existing surface water treatment facilities.