North Carolina
North Carolina’s largest lake under siege by common carp
Boardwalks snake outward from the customer heart via a cypress forest that borders Lake Mattamuskeet. The place the forest opens, 50 snowy egrets congregate within the cover. A blue heron squawks above the muddy waters and cypress knees, which protrude like stalagmites from the mires beneath.
As lovely as these wetlands are, they belong to an ecosystem below siege.
Kevin Dockendorf is a fisheries biologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Assets Fee. He’s standing on a walkway overlooking Outfall Canal’s tidal gates. These gates separate the brackish waters of the Pamlico Sound from the lake’s recent water.
Dockendorf lowers a Secchi disk, a black and white disk hooked up to a measuring rope, into the water. The white of the disk disappears 4 inches beneath the floor.
“In clear programs,” Dockendorf says, “particularly a shallow system, we’d wish to see two or three ft of transparency, as a result of that is how far the solar goes to get down successfully.”
Zachary Turner
/
for WUNC
The typical depth of Lake Mattamuskeet is 1.5 ft. On the lake aspect of the tidal gate, a two-foot gar swims via the sediment and algae. The dissolved oxygen at this gate is 0.16 milligrams per liter, which is simply too low for carp or bass. However gar and bowfin breathe with a “prehistoric lung” that enables them to gulp air from above the floor. Behind the gar, a dirty wake types in a protracted triangle from the fish’s tail.
Alyson Flynn, an advocate with the North Carolina Coastal Federation, led the September public assembly to debate the Lake Mattamuskeet Watershed Restoration plan.
“In 2016, the lake was placed on the state’s 303 D record,” Flynn mentioned. “The explanation it was placed on the record was as a result of the chlorophyll ‘a’ and pH ranges of the lake had been exceedingly excessive.”
For a lot of species, these situations had been a dying sentence. In 2017, refuge biologists recorded that the entire underwater grasses, typically referred to as SAV or submerged aquatic vegetation, had disappeared from the lake. With out these grasses, water readability grew to become a lot worse. Fish additionally misplaced important shelter and nurseries, and poisonous cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, may extra simply dominate the lake.
Zachary Turner
/
for WUNC
And the wrongdoer for all this devastation?
“When widespread carp get right into a system — particularly a shallow water system like Mattamuskeet — they’re in a position to dominate,” Dockendorf mentioned. “SAV and carp don’t combine, however carp and algae get alongside OK.”
The carp fire up the bottom like a tiller. This motion kicks sediment into the water column, which makes the water murkier. Now, daylight can’t attain the underwater vegetation, and predators that depend on eyesight to hunt, just like the bluegill, can’t see the carp eggs.
So, the problem is popping off a 4 million pound tiller in a 40,000-acre lake. At the very least, that was the biomass estimate previous to the set up of carp obstacles in March 2021.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NC Wildlife Assets Fee have already taken actions to mitigate the carp drawback. Fee biologists launched bluegill, which eat carp eggs, close to carp spawning zones. Refuge employees put in steel carp obstacles within the canals. The barrier’s two-inch bars forestall grownup carp from sneaking into the lake to breed.
“Again within the Nineteen Forties and Nineteen Fifties, the lake was going via a considerably related scenario the place refuge administration noticed a decline in submerged aquatic vegetation.” says Wendy Stanton, the appearing refuge supervisor at Pocosin Lakes Nationwide Wildlife Refuge. “In addition they noticed an considerable inhabitants of invasive widespread carp within the lake. So, they did a large elimination of widespread carp again within the 40s and 50s. They instantly noticed an enchancment in water readability.”
Zachary Turner
/
for WUNC
Stanton mentioned she want to see 25 kilos per acre of carp or much less within the lake. Although the carp obstacles have decreased the entire carp, hundreds of thousands of kilos of fish nonetheless must go.
It prompts the query: What do you do with all that carp?
“Effectively, we have now all of this biomass of fish,” Dockendorf mentioned. “We’ve got all of this protein on the market. Frequent carp had been dropped at america to feed the individuals.”
Though carp haven’t had their culinary second in america but, they produce other makes use of. Carp can function elements for pet meals or donations to osprey rehabilitation facilities.
Though carp is likely to be one of many main drivers of the water high quality points within the lake, the Mattamuskeet Watershed Restoration Plan additionally tackles problems with hydrology, or the way in which water flows via the lake.
Michael Cahoon is an area farmer. He was representing the agricultural neighborhood in Hyde County on the public assembly in September.
“Lots of the farmland that I farm drains into Lake Mattamuskeet. [The farmland] has as been draining into it for years,” Cahoon mentioned. “The lake does have an issue that we wish to remedy. I’m on the aspect of the fence that [believes the lake] must be cleaned and maintained, because it was previously.”
In 1934, a court docket settled a case between a number of events concerned in managing the lake. The ensuing doc assured property house owners continued entry to the lake for drainage with out value.
“You probably have a giant storm like we have had previously, the place you bought as a lot as 20 inches of water, the pumps might not be capable of care for all that water,” Cahoon mentioned.
Local weather specialists predict that these large storms will develop into extra frequent with local weather change. For some landowners, lively administration means dredging the canals to maintain them clear. However the stakeholder group is contemplating different tasks as nicely. Daniel Brinn, the Hyde County water and flood management coordinator, represents the pursuits of the farmers, hunters, and residents who depend on the lake for tourism, meals, and different wants.
One venture includes setting up a wetland on a neighboring landowner’s property.
“That wetland will take up sediment and vitamins from that water earlier than it’s discharged or enters one other water physique,” mentioned Brinn.
Enhancing water circulation within the lake and eradicating carp will each restore water high quality to the lake and promote the expansion of underwater grasses.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to open bidding for carp elimination contracts and hopes bidding will open previous to the following carp spawning season within the spring of 2023.
For extra details about the Lake Mattamuskeet Restoration Plan: https://www.fws.gov/venture/lake-mattamuskeet-aquatic-grass-restoration
Bill Belichick’s first coaching staff at North Carolina continues to come together.
Longtime NFL special teams coach Mike Priefer and veteran SEC offensive line coach Will Friend are expected to finalize deals to join Belichick’s staff, sources told ESPN.
After coaching for nearly a decade in college, Priefer started in the NFL in 2002 and was a special teams coordinator in the NFL from 2006 to 2022. He is noted in Browns history as serving as the head coach in a January 2021 wild-card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, which is the franchise’s only postseason win since the 1994 season. Priefer stepped in for Kevin Stefanski, who watched the game at home with COVID.
Priefer was the special teams coordinator for the Chiefs (2006-08), Broncos (2009-10), Vikings (2011-18) and Browns (2019-22). He brings ties to the Naval Academy, something he shares with Belichick and his family. Priefer is a Navy graduate and served as a graduate assistant there.
Friend worked last season as Western Kentucky’s offensive coordinator. He brings strong recruiting ties in the South, having worked at Georgia, Tennessee, Auburn and Mississippi State as the offensive line coach. He has also worked as the offensive coordinator at Colorado State and WKU.
Friend has a long history of developing linemen for the NFL.
With Priefer and Friend, there are six known members of Belichick’s staff, which includes longtime NFL coach Freddie Kitchens as the offensive coordinator and veteran NFL coach Stephen Belichick as the defensive coordinator.
The hires line up the objectives of Belichick, who has stressed that he wants to run the Tar Heels like a pro program.
Before taking the UNC job, Belichick told ESPN’s Pat McAfee that if he were to run a college program, it would be a “pipeline to the NFL for the players that had the ability to play in the NFL.”
He added: “It would be a professional program. Training, nutrition, scheme, coaching, techniques that would transfer to the NFL. It would be an NFL program at a college level and an education that would get the players ready for their career after football.”
North Carolina
Dozens in western NC kicked out of hotels Tuesday despite FEMA extending deadline, officials say
Despite the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) extending the deadline, dozens of people in western North Carolina were left without shelter Tuesday night after being kicked out of the hotels FEMA provided as temporary housing for those impacted by Hurricane Helene.
On Monday, FEMA announced it was extending the deadline for its Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program for victims of Helene in western North Carolina.
Through the program, FEMA paid for hotel and motel rooms for thousands of people displaced by Hurricane Helene.
Tuesday just before 3:30 p.m., FEMA said on X that “current eligible occupants can remain in their lodging through the end of March 2025.”
But hours later, Senator Ted Budd posted this message on X:
“My office is hearing from dozens in WNC who have been kicked out of their hotels tonight, despite FEMA’s announcement yesterday that they were extending Transitional Sheltering Assistance through January 25.
“This is unacceptable. This needs to be fixed TONIGHT.”
Senator Thom Tillis also called out FEMA Tuesday night on X:
“My office has been helping dozens of Helene victims today who have been told their hotel vouchers expired despite not having a safe and livable home to go back to. Their homes have mold and broken windows…it’s 20 degrees tonight. Hotels are trying to help them, and a number of nonprofits are stepping up to pay for victims to stay in their hotels so FEMA has another day to get its act together.
“This is a total breakdown on the part of FEMA.”
This comes after Governor Josh Stein was in western North Carolina that same day.
On Tuesday, Stein posted a photo of himself eating a BBQ sandwich at JRO’s in Canton.
“My team and I have been working hard to maintain temporary housing assistance for people in western NC,” the governor said Monday, one day prior, on X.
Senator Budd said later on Tuesday that he had been in contact with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and encouraged those in need of assistance to contact his office at budd.senate.gov.
WRAL News reached out to FEMA, and this was the agency’s response:
“If any survivors still need housing assistance or feel their TSA eligibility ended in error, they should immediately call the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362.”
If you were impacted by this situation and would like to share your experience with WRAL, go to wral.com/reportit.
The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from Jan. 14 drawing
04-14-35-49-62, Mega Ball: 06, Megaplier: 3
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 14 drawing
03-06-17-26-39, Lucky Ball: 04
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Jan. 14 drawing
Day: 2-0-1, Fireball: 3
Evening: 3-3-6, Fireball: 3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Jan. 14 drawing
Day: 0-2-7-8, Fireball: 8
Evening: 8-8-1-4, Fireball: 2
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from Jan. 14 drawing
11-17-19-20-33
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Double Play numbers from Jan. 14 drawing
18-24-36-37-43
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:
- Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
- Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.
When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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