Topics Related to NCDENR

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries’ (DMF) peer review workshop for the Blue Crab stock assessment ended today. The workshop session that was scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon tomorrow has been cancelled.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public informational meeting on establishing a new estuarine artificial reef in Albemarle Sound. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, in Room 110 at the College of the Albemarle, 205 US-64, Manteo, N.C. 27954.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026, on proposed shellfish leases in Onslow County. The hearing will be held at the Holly Ridge Community Center, 404 Sound Road, Holly Ridge, N.C. 28445, and by Webex.

The 2027 commercial Spot season will close Jan. 1 through April 28 in Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters of the state, a change from dates set for the 2021-2026 commercial Spot season closures.

The N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve will hold fall local advisory committee meetings Nov. 9 through Dec. 3 for the following reserve sites. All meetings are open to the public.

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 N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, on a proposed water column lease in Pamlico County. The hearing will be held at the Patsy H. Sadler Room of the Pamlico County Courthouse, 202 Main St., Bayboro, N.C. 28515, and through Webex.

MOREHEAD CITY – State recreational water quality officials today lifted water quality swimming advisories at two sound-side sites in Carteret County, the advisories were lifted because water testing shows that bacteria levels have dropped below the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s standards set for swimming and water play.

The N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve will hold fall local advisory committee meetings Nov. 9 through Dec. 3 for the following reserve sites. All meetings are open to the public.

Heavy rainfall from Hurricane Isaias offered drought relief to some Western North Carolina mountain counties earlier this month, although nearly half of the state’s counties remain in some stage of a drought that began last year. Additionally, drought conditions have worsened in the Coastal Plain and northern Piedmont.