Lake Norman

Affected River Basins

Catawba

Affected Counties

Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln and Mecklenburg

Fish to avoid:

Largemouth Bass

Striped Bass

Generally, choose these fish from the central part of the state:

Black Crappie

White Crappie

Bluegill Sunfish (Brim)

Redbreast Sunfish (Brim)

Redear Sunfish (Brim)

White Bass

White Perch

Pollutants

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Mercury

Advisory

Date issued: April 9, 2013

Levels of PCBs have been found in striped bass in Lake Norman that exceed the state action level for PCBs of 0.05 mg/kg. Because previous studies have shown that largemouth bass in all waters of North Carolina have elevated levels of mercury, this advisory for Lake Norman includes largemouth bass as well as striped bass. Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not eat any striped bass or largemouth bass from Lake Norman. To guard against mercury exposure and potential PCB exposure, other people should not eat more than two meals a month of largemouth bass and one meal a week of striped bass from Lake Norman. A meal of fish is considered approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish.

In addition to the site-specific fish consumption advisories listed above, there is a statewide advisory for the consumption of fish high in mercury, including Largemouth Bass.