Habitat HomeHabitat ProtectionCape Fear River Partnership

 

Cape Fear River Partnership

 

What’s at stake?

At more than 9,000 square miles, the Cape Fear River basin is one of the largest watersheds in North Carolina, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to past Greensboro. Poor habitat quality in rivers and streams threatens fish, such as American shad, striped bass, river herring, and endangered Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon populations. Dams and other blockages prevent fish such as these from migrating upstream to spawn (lay eggs).

What are we doing?

A partnership of key federal, state, local, academic, and other organizations in the region is working together to develop a multi-year action plan that will use a broad range of tools and capabilities to provide long-term habitat-based solutions for the most pressing challenges for migratory fish.

Building on the momentum created by constructing a fishway on the first barrier on the river—the Army Corps’ Lock and Dam #1—we will address other issues affecting fish and recreational use of the Cape Fear River.

What’s in it for me?

Improved habitat conditions in the Cape Fear River will benefit not only these important fish species, but also the communities that depend on the river for its abundant water supply and rich recreational opportunities. Many North Carolina counties, cities, and businesses depend on the Cape Fear for water, such as Brunswick and New Hanover Counties, the Smithfield Packing Company, Fort Bragg, DuPont, and the cities of Wilmington and Fayetteville.

The economic value of recreational fishing on the Cape Fear is estimated to be more than $1 million annually. This number has potential to grow substantially as populations of some fish species grow in the Cape Fear.

How will it work?

The action plan will

• Identify threats to healthy migratory fish populations.
• Outline actions to improve water quality, habitat conditions,
  and fish passage.
• Determine community and economic benefits of improved      migratory fish populations.

The plan will address protection and restoration challenges and opportunities through multiple approaches.

What’s next?

The partnership will continue to meet to develop the plan for the Cape Fear River and will reach out to the broader community. Our goal is completion of the plan by the end of 2012, with implementation to follow.

Who are the partners?