RALEIGH, N.C. (June 30, 2010) – Renovations to the Sunset Harbor Public Boating Access Area have been completed, and the popular Brunswick County site is set to re-open to the public at noon on Friday, July 2.   The revamped N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission facility, located at 356 Riverview Drive, off Lockwood Folly Road, features a fishing pier, new boat ramps and fixed and floating docks. The improved parking lot also has expanded with more spaces. The Waterfront Access and Marine Industry Fund, administered by the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, paid for additional property to expand the facility, which was the majority of the cost of this project, and some renovations. Vessel registration receipts funded the remainder of the renovations. The N.C. General Assembly approved the $20 million Waterfront Access and Marine Industry Fund in 2007 as a way to pay for acquiring waterfront properties or developing facilities to provide or improve wat

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 29, 2010) – “Boat Safe, Boat Sober” is a timely message for this July 4 holiday weekend, expected to be a busy time on waterways. Operating a recreational vessel while under the influence of an impairing substance or with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher is illegal. The maximum penalty is a $1,000 fine and possible jail. “Consider ‘Boat Safe, Boat Sober’ as the same sort of message that ‘Booze It and Lose It’ is for highways,” said Capt. Chris Huebner, the state boating safety coordinator with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. “Last year, 29 percent of fatal boating accidents in North Carolina were alcohol related.” Operation Dry Water, a national campaign to combat intoxicated and dangerous boaters, indicates impaired operators are a leading threat to public safety in North Carolina. During last weekend’s Operation Dry W

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 22, 2010) – “Carolina Snow Geese,” the 2010 Waterfowl Conservation Stamp and Print, will be available through the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s N.C. Wild Store beginning July 1. Signed and numbered regular edition prints with mint stamps will sell for $145. The collector’s mint stamp will sell for $10. The acrylic portrait, which depicts snow geese flying into a corn field, was painted by renowned waterfowl artist Scot Storm of Minnesota. “Carolina Snow Geese” marks Storm’s second honor as artist for the state’s waterfowl conservation stamp and print, also known as the duck stamp. His painting, “Surf Scoters over the Atlantic” was the North Carolina Waterfowl Conservation Stamp and Print in 2008. Last year, he placed third in North Carolina’s competition. In addition to his North Carolina honors, Storm has amassed an impressive

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 22, 2010) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is alerting boaters, anglers and hikers that Duke Energy is lowering water levels at Tanassee Creek and Wolf Creek lakes to facilitate inspection procedures. Unexpected rapid increases in water flow, due to water releases, make it unsafe for hikers and anglers to be in areas below the dams. Additionally, water levels in both lakes were lowered enough to eliminate the use of the lakes’ public boat ramps. Levels are expected to drop even further before the repair work is completed. Work is expected to take a number of weeks. For status updates, visit Duke Energy’s website, www.duke-energy.com/lakes/nantahala/nantahala-lake-levels.asp, or call 800-829-5253 and choose option 5. 

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 21, 2010) – Fish for free in all public waters — including coastal waters — on July 4 from 12:01 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. While everyone, residents and non-residents, can fish in public waters on this date without a license, all other fishing regulations, such as length and daily possession limits, as well as bait and tackle restrictions, apply. Authorized by the N.C. General Assembly and started in 1994, North Carolina’s annual free fishing day, which always falls on July 4, was created to promote the sport of fishing.   The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission manages recreational fisheries, stocks fish, and provides free access to fishing sites across the state.  And, while many sport fisheries in North Carolina are self-sustaining, the Commission annually stocks a variety of fish in public, inland waters — from trout in the mountains to striped bass in Piedmont reservoirs and channel