Lake Mattamuskeet

09/28/2019

09/25/2019

WHAT'S ALL THE CONCERN ABOUT THE AQUATIC GRASSES IN LAKE MATTAMUSKEET?

When you talk to the locals and the long-time visitors to Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge, you will hear stories about how the lake was teeming with thick beds of aquatic grasses, clear water, abundance of game fish, blue crabs, and the spectacular arrival of hundreds of thousands of wintering, migratory waterfowl.

One of the most important habitat components to this amazing diversity of wildlife was the aquatic grasses. The aquatic grasses, also referred to as submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), provided approximately 40,000 acres of forage habitat for the waterfowl and important habitat for anadromous fish (migrate to fresh water to breed) and game fish. These aquatic grass species included wild celery (Vallisneria americana), sago pondweed (Stuckenia pectinata), southern naiad (Najas guadalupensis), redhead grass (Potamogeton perfoliatis), and the algae (Chara spp. and Nitella spp).

Today, because of excessive nutrients and an over-abundance of invasive common carp, the lake has suffered an almost total loss of all the aquatic grasses. With the recent approval of the Lake Mattamuskeet Watershed Restoration Plan, two priorities were identified to restore the aquatic grasses in the lake. The first is to reduce excessive nutrients inputs into the lake and the second is to remove invasive common carp. Together, we can restore the glory of Lake Mattamuskeet! Photo: Refuge Library

09/20/2019

CARP REMOVAL WILL BENEFIT THE WATER QUALITY IN LAKE MATTAMUSKEET

The invasive common carp were first identified as a problematic species in Lake Mattamuskeet in the 1950s, when turbid (cloudy or obscured) conditions similar to the present day conditions, prevailed in the lake. This led to a massive effort to remove the carp.

Following the successful carp removal there was a significant improvement in the water clarity which increased sunlight pe*******on in the shallower parts of the lake. Aquatic grasses returned to an estimated 16,000 acres in the shallower portion of the lakebed.

Today, the combination of reducing the inputs of nutrients and sediments entering the lake and removing at least 75% of the carp will significantly improve the water quality, clarity and provide the conditions to restore the aquatic grasses in the lake. Photos: Refuge Library

09/16/2019

CARP REMOVAL TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN LAKE MATTAMUSKEET

You may have seen some new signs at the northern culvert on the NC Hwy 94 Causeway that bisects Lake Mattamuskeet. The refuge is working closely with NC Wildlife Resource Commission to identify the best techniques to remove invasive common carp (Cyprinus carpio) from the lake.

The recently approved Lake Mattamuskeet Watershed Restoration Plan identifies two top priorities to improve the water quality and restore aquatic grasses in the lake. The first is to reduce excessive nutrients entering the lake and the second is to remove 75% of the carp from the lake.

Carp are one of the most widely-introduced and ecologically-disruptive freshwater fishes throughout the world, and in shallow lakes have the potential to act as ecosystem engineers by impacting both top-down (e.g. predator abundance) and bottom-up (e.g. nutrient availability) ecological processes. This is because carp feed by rooting along the bottom of the lake which stirs up sediments and increases turbidity levels (cloudy or obscured water).

Restoration of the aquatic grasses in Lake Mattamuskeet will not succeed without first removing a significant amount of carp density. If aquatic grasses are not restored, the Refuge will not be able to provide necessary aquatic resources for trust species such as waterfowl, long-legged waders, diadromous fishes (fish found in both salt and fresh water) and other species. Photo: Refuge Library

09/13/2019

HURRICANE DORIAN CLEAN UP CONTINUES ON MATTAMUSKEET REFUGE

Swan Quarter and Cedar Island Refuges are both open to the public. Trees and large limbs have been removed. Roads are passable.

On Mattamuskeet Refuge, the east end (Lake Landing, Waupoppin) is open.

The west end (Rose Bay) will be open to hunters starting Monday, September 16).

Near the headquarters building, East Main remains closed for several more days while clean up continues. Boats can be launched from the boat ramp on Central Canal Road.

Things to remember for all three refuges - -

Even though tree trunks and large limbs have been removed, there are still areas of small branches and debris. You may not want to drive a car through these areas. Also, watch for falling and dangling limbs overhead.

Goose hunting season continues through September 30. There will be hunters out and about.

Even though the roads are being cleared, the canals are not. There are many trees down across the canals; you may not be able to get boats around some of them. Clearing the canals will be a project for a later date. Photos: Debbie McGowan

09/10/2019

Refuge Update

The Swan Quarter NWR and Bell Island Pier are open for public use. Upon surface inspection, the pier is stable with no damages.

Mattamuskeet NWR - the east end (Lake Landing, Waupoppin) is open to public use. Fishing and hunting activities can now be resumed.

Clean up work is continuing on the rest of Mattamuskeet NWR.

09/10/2019

Hurricane Dorian left no major damage to Mattamuskeet NWR. The staff has returned and clean up has begun. Sections of the refuge will be opened as downed trees and debris are moved off of the roads. A few sections still have standing water and will take a little longer to open back up.

The electricity has been restored and the visitor center is now open. The entrance road from Hwy 94 is still closed, but you can come in from New Holland Road (by the lodge).

The road is open for the Swan Quarter NWR. The Bell Island Pier is still standing, but structural damage has not yet been assessed.

The road is open thru the Cedar Island NWR. Damages have not yet been assessed.

Another update will be given in a few days. If you have specific concerns please contact the Mattamuskeet headquarters.

09/03/2019

HURRICANE DORIAN NOTICE

The Mattamuskeet NWR Visitor Center is now closed. Gates are being closed on Wednesday. Beginning Thursday morning, September 5, the entire refuge will be closed to all entry until further notice.

Following the hurricane, the staff will return to the refuge and access any damages as quickly as possible. A notice will be put on our page letting you know when the refuge reopens.

Swan Quarter NWR (Bell Island Pier) and Cedar Island NWR are also closed to all public entry.

The other refuges of eastern North Carolina - Alligator River, Pea Island, Currituck, Mackay Island, Pocosin Lakes - are also preparing for the hurricane. All refuges will be closed.

Depending on the hurricane path, some refuges may suffer more damage than others. Damages will be assessed and each refuge will open again just as soon as possible.

Please stay safe and follow any evacuation notices for your area.

08/27/2019

08/06/2019

MATTAMUSKEET NWR NEEDS YOUR HELP FINDING SOMEONE.

A few years ago, a visiting biology intern was helping me with a research project. She brought in some older documents that belonged to a local resident she had met. We kept the fragile documents stored away in a folder while not being used. The old saying "out of sight, out of mind" is so true. Yesterday I ran across the folder. I did not find a name, phone number, or any contact information.

Please pass the word around to your local contacts. If these documents belong to you, I would like to give them back. If you are the intern in question, and remember who you got the documents from, please contact me. Debbie McGowan, Administrative Officer, 252-926-4021, X43905 or [email protected].

Thanks for your help.

07/30/2019

The Great Horned Owl (Bubo Virginianus) is best identified by the large tufts of feathers on its head that looks like horns. The brown, white, gray and black markings on its body look like the bark of a tree and helps camouflage it in the woods. An adult has a wingspan of over four feet and is about two feet in height. It lives all across North, Central and South America. It does not migrate, but may move around some in search of food. Both members of a monogamous pair may stay within their territory outside of the breeding season, but they roost separately.

Both the male and female incubate the 3 - 4 eggs laid very early each spring, usually in a nest abandoned by larger birds. They both provide food for the owlets. Owlets can fly when they are 9 - 10 weeks old.

With excellent hearing and vision, the Great Horned Owl usually hunts at night, but is occasionally seen hunting during the day. They mostly hunt small mammals and birds, such as rats, rabbits, opossums, snakes, frogs, and lizards.

This young Great Horned Owl was spotted early in the morning and posed so Debbie McGowan could take its picture.

07/22/2019

Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge will be temporarily closing the northern culvert on both sides of Highway 94 to recreational fishing in order to pilot an invasive carp removal project. This project supports the Lake Landing Watershed Restoration Plan to address the poor water quality of the lake. Carp removal, along with other actions to reduce the amount of nutrients entering the lake, will improve the overall health of the lake, including increasing water quality and clarity.

The Lake Mattamuskeet Watershed Restoration Plan was developed through a partnership between Hyde County, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For more information, please call the office at 252-926-4021, EXT 43904, or visit: https://www.nccoast.org/protect-the-coast/stormwater/lake-mattamuskeet-watershed-restoration/

Photos from the refuge library - a carp removal project many years ago.