Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge

Project goals at Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge are routinely evaluated. Continuing management of the surrounding lands and water quality of Lake Mattamuskeet to support neighboring lands and the world's migratory birds are achieved in partnership with private land owners and government agency support. The refuge will continue to provide quality recreation opportunities for hunting and fishing, and will increase public use in wildlife observation and environmental education and interpretation. 

Lake Mattamuskeet Watershed Restoration Plan

Declining water quality and elevated water levels threaten this natural wonder. In 2017, Hyde County, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service formed a partnership and contracted the Coastal Federation to develop a watershed restoration plan.

On August 7, 2019 the Lake Mattamuskeet Watershed Restoration Plan was approved by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality. In 2020, three grants were awarded from state and national funders to advance the implementation.

Goals:

• Protect the way of life in Hyde County;
• Actively manage the lake water level; and
• Restore water quality and clarity.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation website hosts the approved watershed restoration plan and materials from past public meetings. Interested community members and stakeholders can also sign-up for future email updates and leave comments via the project webpage. Contact Michael Flynn with any questions at michaelf@nccoast.org or 252-473-1607.

Annual Waterfowl Surveys

Mattamuskeet NWR's position along the Atlantic Flyway makes it a prime location for wintering waterfowl. Hundreds of migratory shorebirds find resting and feeding spots along the edge of the lake and throughout the marsh impoundments. Refuge staff conduct annual aerial and bi-weekly ground surveys to assess the wintering waterfowl population.