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 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

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

Rabbi Michael Shields speaks, with co-presidents Slade Goldstein (left) and Len Sadek behind him. (Gayle Shomer/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

The Charlotte area’s Jewish community celebrated a milestone Sunday when about 300 people gathered to dedicate the former Calvary Presbyterian Church on South Street in Davidson as the new Temple Kol Tikvah. It’s the first synagogue between Charlotte and Statesville and gives Lake Norman-area Jews a permanent home. Read the full story

State health officials say striped bass in Lake Norman have been found with elevated levels of PCBs, a suspected cancer-causing chemical. In an announcement Tuesday night the N.C. Department of Health & Human Services advised against eating the fish, as well as large mouth bass, which may have dangerous levels of mercury. Read more in HEALTH & FITNESS»

John Marino, a Lake Norman Marine Commission representative from Catawba County, outlines new boat-rental safety measures Monday night in Mooresville. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

MOORESVILLE – People who rent boats on Lake Norman won’t face any new mandatory education requirements, but rental companies have agreed to adopt a series of voluntary “best practices” for boater education, which they say will improve safety on the lake. The Lake Norman Marine Commission announced Monday that the best practices will include boat-safety videos and improved explanations of emergency equipment and lake rules. Read the full story

Sen. Jeff Tarte

A possible “do-over” of Mecklenburg County’s flawed 2011 property revaluation moved another step closer to reality this week. The state Senate in Raleigh on Thursday unanimously approved a bill that would require Mecklenburg County to correct problems with 2011 property revaluation, and issue refunds or new bills to property owners whose property values are revised. Read the full story

Youth rowers coordinate the move of the newly dedicated “Parents 2012″ boat after the dedication ceremony. (Chuck McShane/DavidsonNews.net)

By CHUCK McSHANE
DavidsonNews.net

HUNTERSVILLE - Back in 2005, Larry Vitez had an idea. He wanted to give the broader public – not just yacht club members – a chance to learn about rowing and sailing, two of Vitez’s lifelong passions.

So it was appropriate that when the North Carolina Community Sailing and Rowing center unveiled some of its newest donated rowing shells, the first was named “Vitez’s Vision.” Read the full story