The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality said Thursday its Division of Water Resources had approved a certificate of coverage to allow BlueGreen Water Technologies to conduct a pilot study of a treatment for cyanobacteria within a limited area of the state’s largest freshwater lake starting June 1.
water quality
Park Service urges public to avoid debris on Rodanthe beach
Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials are advising visitors to avoid the beach adjacent to Ocean Drive because of exposed wires, pipes and septic systems.
New plan details strategy to save, restore NC’s salt marshes
The North Carolina Salt Marsh Action Plan released Wednesday has the overarching goal “to protect, restore, and facilitate the migration of salt marshes in North Carolina to minimize loss of function, benefits, and acreage through 2050 and beyond.”
Swift Creek advisory lifted in Craven County
State water quality officials have lifted the advisory to avoid a several-mile portion of Swift Creek in Craven County contaminated by an animal waste spill.
Sugarloaf Island hybrid restoration project sees progress
Work is moving forward on a project to install wave attenuation devices, a living shoreline and seagrass to help restore the rapidly eroding barrier island that protects Morehead City’s downtown waterfront.
Officials issue swim advisory for Morehead City access
State recreational water quality officials posted a sign advising against swimming at the Sunset Drive public access to Bogue Sound in Morehead City.
Wildlife groups seek to intervene in Pasquotank man’s case
The National Wildlife Federation and the North Carolina Wildlife Federation say Robert White’s dispute with the EPA and the Corps of Engineers could result in further narrowing of wetland protections with devastating water quality and economic effects.
Totals on PFAS-contaminated utilities ‘coming down daily’
The state’s top drinking water protection official told the Environmental Management Commission Thursday that a shrinking number of North Carolinians get their drinking water from public systems with at least one of the synthetic chemicals that exceeds new federal limits.
Biser urges environmental commission to hear PFAS rules
NCDEQ Secretary Elizabeth Biser is urging the Environmental Management Commission to move forward this week with setting surface and groundwater standards for PFAS, a move the NC Chamber opposes.
Cooper sets $148M aside for environment in FY 25 budget
The Cooper administration has recommended more than $148 million go toward conservation and resiliency in his proposed fiscal 2025 budget released last week.
Hog waste spill prompts advisory for part of Swift Creek
The Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources staff were alerted Tuesday to animal waste in ditches from an unknown source later identified as St. John Farm in Grifton.
Street inundation linked to elevated bacteria in creek: Study
N.C. State researchers found elevated levels of fecal bacteria in water samples collected from a tidal creek in Beaufort and town streets following rainfall.
Fish, Wildlife Service reveals project plans for $27.25M
The nature-based solutions announced Thursday for nine refuges and game lands in the Albemarle-Pamlico region include shoreline protection, improvements to water quality, climate resiliency, and wetland impoundment upgrades.
Proposed rules address possible Microcystis bloom sources
The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing revisions to nutrient discharge standards for meat and poultry processors’ wastewater, a potential source of mysterious blooms in the Cape Fear River a decade ago.
Roanoke River refuge gets federal support to expand
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released plan to conserve up to 287,000 acres of floodplain habitat along the Roanoke River.
Watershed protection group plans Earth Day cleanups, talks
Sound Rivers environmental organization has organized cleanups, wetland walks and more for Earth Day.
