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

Rising water surrounded a picnic table at Jetton Park in Cornelius Tuesday. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

Updated 6:27pm
By DAVID BORAKS
CorneliusNews.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/CorneliusNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
CorneliusNews.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

The town of Cornelius Parks, Arts, Recreation & Culture department will host its annual Cornelius Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 20, off West Catawba Ave.

The event, organized with the help of Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists, runs from 10 am to noon. Read the full story

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for the Lake Norman area and surrounding counties, in effect until 4am Friday. Read the full story

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utility Department repaired a broken waste-water pipe in the Torrence Chapel Road area of Cornelius on Sunday night, after about 120 gallons of waste water reached Lake Norman. Read the full story

It’s a bit early to bring it up this year, but those small green worms always prompt questions as they begin dangling from trees during the march toward spring. They’re called canker worms, and they can wreak havoc on the foliage. Many of our neighbors prepared this year by banding their trees. Did you? Read more in REAL ESTATE & HOME»

The Lake Norman Marine Commission holds its monthly meeting Monday night in Mooresville with reports on enforcement, water quality and environment, boater education, and other topics.

The meeting begins at 7pm at the Charles Mack Citizens Center, 215 N. Main St., Mooresville. It’s open to the public. Read the full story