Introduction

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 northwest past Greensboro. The Cape Fear River once supported thriving migratory fish populations, including American shad, shortnose sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, blueback herring, American eel and striped bass, which had immense ecological, economic, and recreational benefits for the local community.


Cape Fear River Watershed Map
Map Credit: NOAA

Declining Fish Populations

More than 1,100 dams and blockages prevent migratory fish from moving upstream in the Cape Fear River to spawn. In addition, poor habitat and water quality have played a role in declining fish populations in the basin. Commercial landings have declined to 87% lower than historic estimates.

Sediment loads and erosion leads to poor fish habitat
Photo Credit: North Carolina, Division of Water Resources (DWR)

Creating a Partnership

Planning and construction of a rock arch ramp on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lock and Dam #1 near Riegelwood brought partners in the basin together working toward a common goal of providing fish more access to historic habitats in the main stem of the Cape Fear River. These partners recognized a need for a broader coordinated watershed-wide effort to rebuild fisheries and the habitat on which they depend. NOAA helped form the Cape Fear River Partnership in 2011.

The partnership is made up of federal, state, local, academic, utility, businesses, and non-profit partners working toward restoring and demonstrating the value of robust, productive, and self-sustaining stocks of migratory fish in the Cape Fear River. Their vision: a healthy Cape Fear River for fish and people.

Cape Fear River Watch StriperFest
Photo Credit: NOAA

Habitat enhancement downstream of Lock and Dam #2
Photo Credit: Dial Cordy and Associates

Angler with striped bass
Photo Credit: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Developing a Plan: An Action Plan for Migratory Fish

The Partnership created an action plan in 2013 organized around three goals:

  • to restore access to historic migratory fish habitat;
  • to improve habitat conditions for migratory fish within the Cape Fear River Basin; and
  • to engage new stakeholders and increase interest in improving fish passage and habitat conditions for migratory fish through communication of socio-economic values associated with such improvement.

Rock Arch Ramp at Lock and Dam #1
Photo Credit: US Army Corps of Engineers

Taking Action: Taking Action to Implement a Plan

Since the Cape Fear River Partnership was established, NOAA has funded multiple efforts in the Cape Fear River to meet the goals identified in the action plan. These efforts include:

  • Habitat Enhancement downstream of the Army Corps of Engineers Lock and Dam #2
  • Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP) barrier removal project
  • Determined historical distribution of American Eel
  • Recovering threatened and endangered species
  • Linking improvements in water quality and migratory fish passage to economic benefits of fisheries

Click the numbered icons to explore each action.

Habitat Enhancement downstream of the Army Corps of Engineers Lock and Dam #2

In 2013 the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership supported the Cape Fear River Fisheries Enhancement Project with funding from NOAA. The project added more than 2,000 cubic yards of crushed granite habitat to the river downstream of lock and dam #2. Monitoring showed that this habitat was now being used by spawning American shad, the target species. The project promoted opportunities for community involvement with volunteer assistance in the habitat restoration effort.

Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP) barrier removal project

In 2014, NOAA’s Southeast Habitat Conservation Division began working with partners to analyze potential dams in the Cape Fear watershed for removal as part of the Southeast Aquatic Connectivity Assessment Project (SEACAP). Several dams, like Dodd’s Millpond in Bladen County and Orton Pond in Brunswick County, are being considered as opportunities for fish passage if they are removed. Without these dams, blueback herring (Dodd’s Millpond) and American eel (Orton Pond and Dodd’s Millpond) could move further upstream. This work is ongoing. Explore the SEACAP tool here.

Determined historical distribution of American Eel

In 2013, NOAA derived the historical distribution of American eel in the Cape Fear River Basin. This information provides a baseline for determining future conservation targets.

This map shows the presence of American eel before and after 1980. Data can be downloaded here.

Click items in the layer list below to hide or show features on the map. Use your mouse for panning around or zooming into an area and for more information on the location, click the green or purple dots.

Recovering threatened and endangered species

NOAA’s Endangered Species Act Section 6 funding has supported a three-state effort to document the distribution and movement of Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon captured and tagged in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia waters. The 2010 funding was used for two years of sturgeon tagging and habitat assessment and enhancement work. Partners in the Basin continue to seek additional funding for this tagging work.

Linking improvements in water quality and migratory fish passage to economic benefits of fisheries

The Partnership included broad socioeconomic actions in the action plan. In 2013, NOAA provided funding to The Nature Conservancy and the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries to complete baseline work to understand the value of the Cape Fear River basin fisheries and clean water availability. When the data was analyzed, the findings indicate that the fisheries of the Middle and Lower Cape Fear River supported an estimated 467 jobs, $14.2 million in income, and $35.7 million in business sales. To find out more click here.

The Nature Conservancy - Cape Fear River Water Quality from Right Point Media (RPM) on Vimeo.

Cape Fear River Watch StriperFest catch
Photo Credit: NOAA

Habitat Enhancement downstream of Lock and Dam #2
Photo Credit: Dial Cordy and Associates, Inc.

Small Dam Photo of Dodd’s Millpond
Photo Credit: NOAA

Sturgeon tagging
Photo Credit: North Carolina, Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF)

Fishing on the pier at Lock and Dam #1
Photo Credit: NOAA

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Future Work: Cape Fear River Partnership into the future

The Cape Fear River Partnership has resulted in comprehensive watershed-scale solutions and widespread support for restoring migratory fish in the Cape Fear River. While working at a large scale with multiple stakeholders and projects adds complexity to river conservation efforts, working at a watershed scale also increases the opportunities to collaborate and share expertise on specific projects and to leverage funding for project planning and implementation. The Partnership is led by state, federal, non-profit and for profit groups working directly in the Cape Fear River watershed. The local leadership distributed the Partnership’s first annual progress report on the action plan. The Partnership, including NOAA, is looking ahead to accomplishing the actions outlined in the action plan and determining additional actions to meet the three goals of the action plan.

Kayaking on the Cape Fear River
Photo Credit: American Rivers