Spencer Chadinha watches birds during an “Animal Behavior” class at the Davidson College Lake Campus in Mooresville. (Gayle Shomer photo)

“I was kind of surprised I had to sit in a ditch,” said Davidson College Biology Major, Spencer Chadinha. He joined others in “Animal Behavior” for a bird-watching afternoon class on Langtree Road at the Davidson College Lake Campus in Mooresville.

“It’s nice to be outside for class. It’s pretty cool. If I have to spend my afternoon in class, I’m glad to be hanging out watching birds,” Spencer said, as he sat tucked on a small grassy knoll. Read the full story

Davidson Lands Conservancy officials and members of the Runnymede Homeowners Association board gathered in the Runnymede Woods east of Davidson on May 6 to sign an agreement that permanently protects more than 50 acres of woodlands. See more in REAL ESTATE & HOME»

Oxford Dam at the end of Lake Hickory, in Catawba County. (via Huntersville Fire Department)

Heavy spring rains raised water levels all along the Catawba River basin this week, leading to flooding in some low-lying areas of the river and area lakes. Residents along Lake Norman reported flooding, and some residents in northwest Charlotte’s Riverside neighborhood were evacuated amid rising waters. Read on for a photo gallery. Read the full story

The Lake Norman Regional Transportation Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 6:30pm at the Cornelius Town Hall, with a focus on transportation planning in the NC 73 corridor through the region. Read the full story

Updated Wednesday 8:03am
Piedmont Natural Gas says work on a new gas pipeline at the northern edge and just north of Davidson on Wednesday could be noisy. The work is scheduled between 10am and noon.  Read the full story

The rain broke enough Monday to let the sun shine through on Lake Davidson. Jack McCall took the photo from his home at Spinnaker Point. (Jack McCall photo)

Updated 6:27pm
By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

After several days of heavy rain, water levels around Lake Norman are above normal, prompting warnings this week from officials who manage safety on the lake. Duke Energy said it is boosting flows at its dams in the Catawba River basin, and urging lakeside residents to beware of flooding in low-lying areas.

The National Weather Service reported Tuesday morning that some residents along the river were being evacuated, especially in the area between Lake Norman and Mountain Island Lake.  Fire officials said Tuesday night that about 40 homes in the Riverside community in northwest Charlotte were evacuated.

Meanwhile, the Lake Norman Marine Commission is asking boaters to avoid big wakes near shore. Read the full story

By LINCOLN DAVIDSON
DavidsonNews.net

Fossil fuels pose an immediate global threat, say Davidson College students petitioning the school to divest of all investments in the fossil fuels extraction industry. The students are part of a nation-wide coalition taking a stand against fossil fuels. Read the full story

A delivery truck delivered about 300 grass carp into Lake Norman last Tuesday, April 24. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

MOORESVILLE – Officials from Duke Energy, the the Lake Norman Marine Commission and the state of North Carolina gathered at the Davidson College Lake Campus in Mooresville one morning last week for a fish release. Not game fish, but “grass carp,” which the state has been using for more than a decade to control the growth of invasive hydrilla on Lake Norman.

Ron Shoultz is executive director of the marine commission, and a 15-year resident and boater. We asked him a few questions as we awaited the arrival of a tractor-trailer from Arkansas, carrying tanks of the large grey fish.

Listen to an audio version of this interview below. Read the full story