State of the Sounds

The health of the bodies of water that surround coastal North Carolina is being discussed today in New Bern. The state's eight sounds are managed by a program through the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Jim Hawhee works for DENR. He says what happens in Raleigh and Durham effects the water in the sounds.

Jim Hawhee: "Those are all part of the larger watershed so we focus on urban issues up near the triangle and some of the larger cities around our region. Agriculture and forestry are significant industries that if done well can really help protect the sounds, but also have the potential to pollute them as well."
Hawhee says water quality in the sounds has improved since the management plan was implemented 25 years ago. He says a new plan is needed to deal with an expanding population in the large watershed that drains into the sounds.

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