OUR SOUNDS STATUS

[NC Buck]

Hello Mr. Buchanan- 



We have been collecting water quality samples since the hurricane in various parts of the sounds.  Our major problem areas so far have been our rivers and we have not recorded any specific water quality problems in the open sound yet, but we anticipate that could happen to some degree in those areas as well.



The runoff and flushing of the swamps into our rivers will eventually make its way to the sound.  Decent winds and cool days and nights will help for sure.  One of our main concerns relative to striped bass is how the water quality degradation following an event such as Hurricane Irene is how it will affect the juvenile population, and those effects will not likely be known until 2-3 years down the road when those fish recruit to our recreational and commercial fisheries or some of the independent sampling gear we have in place.  This is unfortunately true with all such events in that they are contributing to fish kills that we can see now and just as importantly those that we can't see immediately.



We will continue to monitor the water quality in our sounds and rivers and investigate fish kills and answer questions about degrading water quality.  We are glad to answer any other questions and concerns you may have and we greatly appreciate your interest in our fisheries resources here in North Carolina.



Please feel free to check back with us in the weeks to come for additional information regarding what we are seeing in our water quality sampling data and our other sampling as well.



Take care and thanks for your inquiry,

Kathy