CAPE FEAR RIVER T - eenorthcarolina.org

CAPE FEAR RIVER
BASIN

T he 200-mile Cape Fear River is the main tributary and namesake of the state’s profile:
largest river basin. It is the only river in North Carolina that flows directly into the ocean.
The river draws its name from the treacherous Total miles of
COURTESY OF N.C. ARCHIVES AND HISTORY offshore shoals (dubbed the “Cape of Feare” by streams and rivers:
early mariners). The shoals stretch for miles into
Historic steamboat the Atlantic Ocean from the river’s mouth. The Cape 6,584
Fear River and its tributaries were important pathways for early
commerce through the historic ports of Brunswick, Charlestown Total acres of lakes:
34,796
and Wilmington. In the mid-1800s, the Cape
Fear was an outlet for the commercial products Total acres of estuary:
of more than 28 counties. River trade extended 24,472
up to Fayetteville through a series of three locks
and dams that raised the water level. Through- Municipalities
out the 19th century, shallow-draft steamboats within basin: 113
called at more than 100 local landings between
Fayetteville and Wilmington. Counties
within basin: 26
The Cape Fear River Basin is one of four river
basins completely contained within North Carolina’s borders. The head- Size: 9,164
waters (origin) of the basin are the Deep and Haw rivers. These rivers square miles
converge in Chatham County just below B. Everett Jordan Dam to form
the Cape Fear River. The river ends as a 35-mile-long coastal estuary Population:
2,072,305

(2010 U.S. Census)

An oil tanker travels up
the Cape Fear River 15
miles below Wilmington.

KEN TAYLOR, WILDLIFE IMAGES

BREAKING T hree lock-and-dam structures on the lower other anadromous fish—ocean-dwelling species
DOWN Cape Fear River once allowed barges and that swim up into freshwater streams to repro-
large boats to navigate waters that would duce. Today the locks are no longer operated
BARRIERS otherwise be too shallow. As a vessel traveled for navigation but remain an obstacle to these
upriver, gates would open and close to release fish, including the shortnose sturgeon, which is
on the Endangered Species List. State and fed-
more water and allow passage. These structures eral fisheries agencies are pursuing the removal
of the dams so that migratory fish can return to
eliminated 160 miles of the river from the migra- their historic spawning grounds in the upper
Cape Fear River Basin. Though the dams were
tion routes of shad, striped bass, sturgeon and not designed for water supply, cities such as
Wilmington and Fayetteville draw water from
EDSEL L. DANIEL the impoundments. Fisheries officials hope to
work in partnership with municipalities and citi-
zen groups to simultaneously satisfy water-
supply needs and re-open routes for migratory
fish species.

A lock and dam on
the Cape Fear River
near Elizabethtown

that is an important nursery area for juvenile Cape Fear River
fish, crabs and shrimp. Large industries lining

the lower Cape Fear make the basin North

Carolina’s most industrialized. The basin

also contains one-fifth of the state’s popula-

tion. Major tributaries include the Black River,

which flows into the Cape Fear River in Pender

Barrels of naval stores County, and the Northeast Cape Fear River,
line the docks at Eagle
Island, with Wilmington which flows into the Cape Fear at Wilmington.
waterfront in background.
These are both “blackwater” streams that

drain the acidic soils of hardwood swamps.

COURTESY OF N.C. ARCHIVES AND HISTORY WILLIAM VINAL, CAPE FEAR RIVER WATCH

Hundreds of turpentine distilleries once dotted the historically vast

longleaf pine forests of the region. The products of these trees—tar,

pitch, turpentine and rosin—distinguished Wilmington as the world’s

leading exporter of naval stores in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Many different aquatic ecosystems in the Cape Fear River Basin sup-
port at least 95 species of commercial and recreational fish. Estuaries,
blackwater rivers and rocky streams in the basin support 42 rare aquatic
species. The Cape Fear shiner, a fish that is federally listed as endan-
gered, has been found nowhere in the world except the Cape Fear
River Basin. Other endangered species include the shortnose sturgeon,

COURTESY OF THE N.C. DIVISION OF TOURISM, FILM AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

A little angler casts a line. Greensboro skyline

the red-cockaded woodpecker, the Saint Francis’ satyr (a butterfly) and the West Indian A Scarce Minnow
manatee, a visitor to coastal estuaries. The American alligator and the loggerhead sea turtle The Cape Fear shiner is
are listed nationally as threatened species, meaning they are at risk of becoming endangered. a small minnow (rarely
exceeding 2 inches)
The basin has 33 reservoirs, including B. Everett Jordan Reservoir (“Jordan Lake”), the largest that is federally listed
lake in the basin at 46,768 acres. Constructed in the 1970s, it is the main source of drinking as endangered and
water for the town of Cary and a major recreational spot for the fast-growing Triangle region. also is endemic (found
The most populated regions of the basin are in and near the Triad area (Greensboro-High nowhere else) to the
Point), the Durham-Chapel Hill area, Fayetteville and Wilmington. The 26 counties contained Cape Fear River Basin.
within or overlapping the borders of the Cape Fear River Basin are expected to grow in popu- It lives in shallow, rocky
lation from 3 million to about 5 million over the next 20 years. shoals within main river
channels only in sec-
The Cape Fear shiner tions of the Deep, Haw
and Rocky rivers. Dur-
is a small, endangered ing spring spawning
season, the males’
minnow that is unique to the Cape KEN TAYLOR, NCWRC gold color intensifies
and females take on
Fear River Basin. a silvery cast. Dam con-
struction in the Cape
Fear River Basin has most
significantly affected
shiner populations by
flooding the fish’s
habitat. Changes in
flow regulation could
further threaten the
few remaining popu-
lations of this species.

CHARLES BRASWELL JR.

Large-scale livestock operations also compete for the region’s natural resources—the basin CHARLES BRASWELL JR.
contains the most swine of any North Carolina river basin (58 percent of the state’s total
hog population). Growth in human population and livestock numbers can stress aquatic Nesting brown pelicans
systems because so much polluted runoff washes into streams and rivers. (left); sunrise casts a rosy
glow on the Cape Fear
River at Southport (above).

Fertilizers and animal waste in runoff—from lawns, urban developed areas, farm fields and live- JOE SWIFT
stock operations—increases the flow of nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) into nearby
waters. These nutrients can stimulate algae growth and decrease the amount of oxygen that is
available in the water for aquatic animals. Such conditions can cause fish kills and the loss of
other vital aquatic species. Both Jordan Lake and the Haw River are designated by the state
as “nutrient sensitive waters.” The state placed stricter limits on the amounts of nitrogen and
phosphorus that wastewater treatment plants can
discharge into these waters.

The Cape Fear estuary has experienced fewer
instances of nutrient-related algae blooms and
fish kills than waters of the adjacent Neuse River
Basin. Both regions, however, face similar pressures
caused by nonpoint source pollution (polluted run-
off from land). For example, stormwater runoff makes
the water unsuitable for various aquatic species. Cities
and towns throughout the river basin are developing
strategies to reduce and treat runoff.

The charming Wilmington waterfront

As population and industry in the watershed continue to increase,
conservation groups, municipalities and other stakeholders are
cooperating to manage growth, monitor water quality, restore
wetlands and protect the other valuable resources of the Cape
Fear River Basin. There are many opportunities for people to get
involved with grassroots efforts to protect community creeks,
streams and rivers. (See the list of contacts on the back of this
brochure.) Individuals can also help by managing the quality and
quantity of runoff by reducing the use of fertilizers, pesticides and
other chemicals and controlling erosion on their properties.

CHARLES BRASWELL JR. The least bittern sways
and points its bill
upward to camouflage
its streaked body
among marsh grasses.

NCWRC

Old pier on estuary, Bald Head Island, N.C. (above);
fishing on the Cape Fear (right).

EDSEL L. DANIEL

State of North Carolina: Governor Pat McCrory • North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources: Secretary
John E. Skvarla, III • Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs: Program Manager Lisa Tolley; Project Manager Ian Brown
• Editor Carla Burgess • Designer Kimberly KC Schott, Red Gate Design • Special Thanks North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission,
North Carolina Division of Water Quality and North Carolina Natural Heritage Program • Date: 2013 • 5,500 copies of this public document
were printed at a cost of $1,324.12 or 0.241 per copy. • This publication was funded through a Walmart Stormwater Compliance Grant.

Printed on recycled paper

HIKING & BIKING ROCKINGHAM CASWELL

Lake Lake Graham-
Townsend Cammack Mebane

Lake

Kernersville 43 42 20Bur lington

48 Greensboro 33 l hiking
l hiking and biking
High 11 44 Graham ORANGE Durham l Environmental Education Center
Point Carrboro
GUILFORD 31 More information about Environmental Educa-

Deep 35 12 16 23 7 39 37 tion Centers and the opportunities they offer
Asheboro River36Chapel H i l l D U R H A M
ALAMANCE Haw can be found at www.eenorthcarolina.org.
RANDOLPH 18
B. Everett
Jordan
Rocky Lake 19
WAKE
13Pittsboro Harris
Lake 32
River

CHATHAM Ri ver 29 46 9

in the Cape Fear River Basin 51 Sanford

LEE 24

Carthage Lillington

The Cape Fear River Basin offers many opportunities to 165 HARNETT
MOORE 38

enjoy and explore nature through walking, hiking and 50 Southern L
Pines S

biking. This list includes places for easy to moderate activity. 49 L WAYN E
I
5Kenansville
Many sites include views of streams, rivers, creeks, lakes and 28 H 40 34 Northeast
D DUPLIN
Fayetteville
wetlands. Remember that some trails are multi-use, serving A N HOKE SAMPSON
21 6 Clinton
pedestrians, bicyclists, equestrians and other recreational users. S Raeford
CUMBERLAND
Hope Mills South

l HIKING l 21 Lake Rim Park www.fcpr.us/outdoor_ BLADEN Cape Fear
1 Airlie Gardens programs/lake_rim_park.aspx 17 3Cape
26F e a r Bay Tree River
2 Bald Head Woods Coastal Reserve 22 Moores Creek National Battlefield White Lake
Lake
www.nccoastalreserve.net/ www.nps.gov/mocr/ l 1 mile of walking trails;
3 Bladen Lakes State Forest http:// wheelchair-accessible. Elizabethtown 25Singletary PENDER ONSLOW
ncforestservice.gov/ l 33,017 acres l 150 23 North Carolina Botanical Garden Lake Burgaw Holly
miles of multi-use roads. River Black Shelter
24 Raven Rock State Park Swamp
22

4 Boiling Spring Lakes Nature Preserve 25 Singletary Lake State Park River 14

www.nature.org l 6,157 acres l 2-mile 26 Turnbull Creek Educational COLUMBUS N E4W1
nature trail.
5 Cabin Lake County Park www.duplin State Forest Swamp 1 27
countync.com/governmentOffices/parksRecreation Bolivia
.html l 2.2 mile trail around lake and through park 27 UNC-W Arboretum www.uncw.edu/ Wilmington
6 Cape Fear Botanical Garden ba/pplant/arboretum 4
28 Weymouth Woods Sandhills 45
7 Cane Creek Reservoir www.owasa.org/
whatwedo/recreation.aspx l Nature trail Nature Preserve HANOVER
below dam.
29 White Pines Nature Preserve http:// 8
triangleland.unraveltheweb.com/what-we-do/
nature-preserves/white-pines-nature-preserve 10

47
30

Cape Fear

2

8 Carolina Beach State Park l 275 acres l 3 miles of trails.

9 Carroll Howard Johnson Environ- 30 Zeke’s Island Coastal Reserve

mental Education Park www.fuquay- www.nccoastalreserve.net 42 Greensboro Watershed Trails

varina.org/departments-and-services/parks- www.greensboro-nc.gov/index.aspx?page=

recreation-and-cultural-resources/parks/ l l HIKING and BIKING l 1372 l 50 miles of trails around city lakes.
28 acres l 2 miles of interpretive nature trails. 31 American Tobacco Trail www.triangle 43 Guilford Courthouse Battlefield Trail
10 Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
trails.org/ATT.HTM l Planned 22-mile rails- www.nps.gov/guco/index.htm l 2.5-mile trail.
www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/fofi/main.php to-trails project. 44 Hagan-Stone Park http://haganstone.

11 Greensboro Public Gardens 32 Bass Lake Park www.hollyspringsnc.us/ guilfordparks.com/ l 3409 acres l 8.2 miles
http://greensborobeautiful.org/gardens/ index.aspx?nid=320 l 20 acres l 1.25 miles of of trails.

l 2.5 miles of trails; wheelchair-accessible. wheelchair-accessible trails. 45 Halyburton Park
12 Hank Anderson Community Park
33 Burlington Parks www. burlingtonnc.gov 46 Harris Lake Park

www.carrboro.com/parks.html l 55 acres 34 Cape Fear River Trail www.fcpr.us/ 47 Oak Island Nature Center/ South-
l .4-mile trail.
cape_fear_river_trail.aspx l 4-mile, wheelchair- port Paths and Greenways www.oakisland

13 Haw Slopes State Natural Area accessible trail. southport.com/PageManager/Default.aspx/

www.triangleland.org/ l 1,022 acres 35 Cedarock Park www.alamance- PageID=551303&NF=1
48 Piedmont Environmental Center:
14 Holly Shelter Game Land www.nature. nc.com// l 414 acres l 4 miles of nature trails

org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/united and 1.5-mile bike trail; .5-mile wheelchair- Bicentennial Greenway www.highpointnc.

states/northcarolina/ l 75,120 acres accessible trail. gov/pr/greenway.cfm l 9.5-mile trail; wheelchair-
15 James Goodwin Forest http://cnr. 36 Chapel Hill Parks/Greenways accessible.

ncsu.edu/fer/dept l 1,169 acres http://chapelhillparks.org/ l 11 miles of trails; Piedmont Environmental Center Preserve www.

16 Johnston Mill Nature Preserve some wheelchair-accessible. highpointnc.gov/pr/piedmont_environmental_

www.triangleland.org/what-we-do/nature- 37 Duke Forest www.dukeforest.duke.edu/ l center.cfm l 376 acres l includes Bicentennial
preserves/johnston-mill-nature-preserve 7,050 acres l 30 miles of paved access roads. Greenway.

l 296 acres l .5 miles of trails. 38 Dunn-Erwin Trail www.harnett.org/ 49 Rassier Wicker Park www.villageof
17 Jones Lake State Park
health/physical-910.asp l 5.3-mile trail crosses pinehurst.org/ l 103 acres l .5-mile,
18 Jordan Lake Educational State Forest Black River. wheelchair-accessible trail.

19 Jordan Lake State Recreation Area 39 Durham Greenway Trails www.bikewalk 50 Reservoir Park/Southern Pines

20 Lake Michael Park www.cityofmebane. durham.org/ l 14 miles of trails. Greenways www.southernpines.net/

com/lakemichaelpark.asp l 200 acres l 1.5 40 Fayetteville Parks www.fcpr.us/ Recreation/Parks.aspx l 13 miles of trails
miles of nature trails. 41 Greenfield Lake www.capefearriver and greenways; wheelchair-accessible.

watch.org/education/greenfield-lake l 5 mile 51 San-Lee Environmental Education
= some trails designated as wheelchair accessible path around 90 acre lake. and Recreation Park

22

PADDLING ROCKINGHAM CASWELL

Lake Lake
Townsend Cammack Graham-

16 19 18 24 Mebane

Kernersville 29 Lake
13Burlington 21
25 10Greensboro 20

High Graham ORANGE Durham
Point Carrboro
GUILFORD
32 9
River
ALAMANCE Haw Chapel Hill DURHAM

26 Rocky B. Everett WAKE
Jordan
Deep 3Harris
Asheboro 6 2Lake
Lake
RANDOLPH Pittsboro
River

CHATHAM Ri ver 15

in the Cape Fear River Basin 11
28Sanford

LEE

Carthage Lillington

HARNETT

The Cape Fear River Basin offers many opportunities for MOORE

paddling creeks, ponds, streams, rivers, lakes and estuaries. The Southern L
S
Pines 27
L WAYN E
I
places included here offer public access areas maintained by state, H 7Kenansville

federal or local governments. Privately operated marinas and boat D 2F3ay1et2teville SAMPSON NortheastDUPLIN
docks may also be available. These trails and lakes are suitable for A N HOKE 8 Clinton
S Raeford
CUMBERLAND
easy to moderate paddling. Hope Mills South

1 Bald Head Woods Coastal Reserve* 16 Haw River Trail 31 BLADEN Cape Fear
www.nccoastalreserve.net/ (highlighted in yellow above) www.thehaw.org/ Cape River
l 110-mile trail from Greensboro to Jordan Lake. Bay Tree
2 B. Everett Jordan Lake* 17F e a r White Lake
www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/jord/main.php 17 Jones Lake Lake
l 46,768 acres l16 public boat ramps. www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/jone/main.php
l 224 acres Elizabethtown 4Singletary PENDER ONSLOW
3 Bass Lake Burgaw Holly
www.hollyspringsnc.us/index.aspx?nid=320 18 Lake Brandt Lake Shelter
l 80 acres l Canoe and boat rental available. www.greensboro-nc.gov/index.aspx?page= Swamp
1310 l 816 acres River Black
4 Black River*
http://www.nature.org 19 Lake Higgins River
www.greensboro-nc.gov/index.aspx?page=
5 Boiling Spring Lakes 1310 l 226 acres COLUMBUS 30 NEW
(910) 845-3693 14
20 Lake Mackintosh Swamp
6 Bynum Canoe Access (Haw River) http://burlingtonnc.gov/index.aspx?NID Bolivia Wilmington
www.triangleland.org/what-we-do/page/ =245 l 1,100 acres
lower-haw-state-natural-area 5 HANOVER
21 Lake Michael*
7 Cabin Lake www.cityofmebane.com/lakemichaelpark.asp 33
http://www.duplincountync.com/qualityOf l 59 acres 1 Cape Fear
Life/recreation.html l 69 acres
22 Lake Reidsville 30 Sutton Lake*
8 Cape Fear River Paddle Trail* www.ci.reidsville.nc.us/government/lake_ l 1,100 acres
(highlighted in yellow above) www.ncsu.edu/ reidsville/index/index.php l 750 acres
paddletrails/southerncoast/sc10.html l 31 Horseshoe Lake/Suggs Mill Pond
147-mile trail from Fayetteville to Southport. 23 Lake Rim* Game Land
For a map, call (910) 395-4553. www.fcpr.us/outdoor_programs/lake_rim_ www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northa
park.aspx l 50 acres merica/unitedstates/northcarolina/index.htm
9 Cane Creek Reservoir l 600 acres
www.owasa.org/whatwedo/recreation.aspx 24 Lake Townsend
l 540 acres l Boats on car tops only; no trailers. www.greensboro-nc.gov/index.aspx?page= 32 University Lake*
1310 l 1,542 acres www.owasa.org/whatwedo/recreation.aspx
10 City Lake* l 213 acres
www.highpointnc.gov/pr/city_lake_park.cfm 25 Oak Hollow Lake*
l 340 acres www.highpointnc.gov/pr/oak_hollow_festival 33 Zeke’s Island National Estuarine
_park.cfm l (336) 883-3494 l 800 acres Research Reserve.
11 Deep River via McIver Landing www.nccoastalreserve.net/
www.triangleland.org/what-we-do/nature- 26 Ramseur Lake*
preserves/mciver-landing www.townoframseur.org/parks_recreation. *Denotes site with public access points
htm l (336) 824-4646 l 127 acres maintained by the N.C. Wildlife Resources
12 Glenville Lake at Mazarick Park Commission. For directions to boat ramps,
www.fcpr.us/parks.aspx l 26 acres 27 Reservoir Lake visit www.ncwildlife.org and click on
www.southernpines.net/Recreation/Parks.aspx Boating/Waterways, then Maps/Location.
13 Graham-Mebane Lake* l 95 acres
www.grahamrecreationandparks.com/Default. B For more information about trails along
aspx?tabid=75 l 650 acres 28 San-Lee Environmental Education
and Recreation Park coastal creeks, rivers and the Intracoastal
14 Greenfield Lake www.leecountync.gov/Departments/SanLee Waterway, visit www.ncsu.edu/paddletrails.
www.capefearriverwatch.org/education/green Park.aspx l Two 10-acre lakes
field-lake l 90 acres
29 Stoney Creek/Old City Lake*
15 Harris Lake* http://burlingtonnc.gov/index.aspx?NID
www.wakegov.com/parks/harrislake/Pages/ =218 l 140 acres
default.aspx l 4,100 acres l Boats on car tops
only; no trailers.

?WHERE What makes the Cape Fear River Basin special? See for yourself. Visit these Environmental

SHOULD Education Centers to discover more about your ecological address:
I GO
l Agape Center for Environmental Education l Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch:
Raven Rock State Park
l Airlie Gardens Environmental Education Focus Library

l American Livestock Breeds Conservancy l Lake Higgins Environmental Education Center

l Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Educational Center l Lake Rim Park

l Cape Fear Botanical Garden l Marine Quest: UNC-W Center for

l Cape Fear Museum of History and Science Marine Science

l Cape Fear River Watch Inc. l Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

COURTESY OF THE N.C. DIVISION OF TOURISM, l Carolina Beach State Park l Natural Science Center of Greensboro
FILM AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
l Center for Education, Imagination and l New Hanover County Arboretum

the Natural World at Timberlake Farm l North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher

l Children’s Museum of Wilmington l North Carolina Botanical Garden

l Clark Park Nature Center l North Carolina Coastal Reserve Program

l Frank Sharpe Jr. Wildlife Education Center l North Carolina Zoological Park

l Halyburton Park l Piedmont Biofuels

l Harris Energy and Environmental Center/ l Piedmont Environmental Center

Harris Plant Visitors Center l Public Works Commission Watershed

l Harris Lake County Park Education Center

l Haw River Program/Haw River State Park l Raven Rock State Park

l Jones Lake State Park l San-Lee Environmental Education and

l Jordan Lake Educational State Forest Recreation Park

l Jordan Lake State Recreation Area l Screech Owl Farm School

l Jordan Lake Visitor Assistance Center l Singletary Lake State Park

l Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and l Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest

Rehabilitation Center l Weymouth Woods – Sandhills

Nature Preserve

For more information about Environmental Education Centers in North Carolina,
check out the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs’ website at
www.eenorthcarolina.org.

?HOW You can gain a sense of community pride by learning more and helping to protect streams, rivers
and lakes in the Catawba River Basin. The contacts listed below can help you do just that.
CAN To find out about local river organizations and conservation groups, contact your local soil
I HELP and water conservation district. To find out about how you can get involved in local water-
way and other litter cleanups, contact North Carolina Big Sweep.

Clean Water Management Trust Fund North Carolina Big Sweep
www.cwmtf.net/ www.ncbigsweep.org/

Cape Fear River Basinwide Plan* North Carolina Stream Watch
http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/ps/bpu/basin/ www.ncwater.org/Education_and_Technical_
capefear Assistance/Stream_Watch

Division of Water Quality, Stormwater North Carolina Water Science Center
and Runoff Pollution http://nc.water.usgs.gov/
www.ncstormwater.org/

North Carolina Association of Soil &
Water Conservation Districts
www.ncaswcd.org

t *Basinwide water quality planning is a nonregulatory, watershed-based approach to restoring and protecting the
quality of North Carolina’s surface waters. The N.C. Division of Water Quality welcomes community input.

To order additional brochures on any of North Carolina’s 17 river basins, a general river basin booklet or a poster, fill out the online order
form at www.eenorthcarolina.org.