A collaboration of academia, government, industry and the public, the LCFRP is headquartered in and administered by the Aquatic Ecology Laboratory at the University of North Caorlina Wilmington’s Center for Marine Science. Program objectives are to develop an understanding of the fundamental scientific processes shaping and controlling the aquatic ecology of the Cape Fear River system and provide a mechanism for information exchange and public education. Numerous physical, chemical, and biological measurements are collected at thirty-four different sites on a regular basis so biologists, chemists, physicists, and geologists will be able to understand freshwater, estuarine, and nearshore marine processes in the Cape Fear River basin. This research will complement and refine the current basinwide management plans being developed by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Currently a program in the Middle and Upper Cape Fear River Basins are performing similar monitoring activities. With the commencement of monitoring in all three basins regulators will have comprehensive scientific based information with which to form educated decisions regarding management activities in the Cape Fear River basin.
The mission of the Cape Fear River Program is to develop an understanding of processes which control and influence the Cape Fear River and to provide a mechanism for information exchange and public education. Specific objectives include:
The Cape Fear River winds for 200 miles through the heart of the North Carolina piedmont, crossing the coastal plain and emptying into the great Atlantic Ocean near Southport. The river begins near Greensboro and Winston-Salem as two rivers, the Deep River and the Haw River. These two rivers converge near Moncure to form the Cape Fear River. The Black River joins the Cape Fear 15 miles above Wilmington and the Northeast Cape Fear River enters the system at Wilmington. The 35 miles of river between Wilmington and the ocean is called the Cape Fear Estuary because of the tidal influence and saline waters. This area of the river is extremely important for saltwater animals because of its function as a nursery for juvenile fishes, crabs and shrimp. The Cape Fear River system is North Carolina’s largest river system whose basin covers 9,000 square miles and encompasses streams in 29 of the state’s 100 counties, and is the most industrialized of all of North Carolina’s rivers.
The river is an important natural resource that supports many uses including:
The Lower Cape Fear River Program Advisory Board consists of representatives from organizations which have an interest in the Cape Fear River as a natural resource. The following is a list of organizations which actively participate on the advisory board.
The Lower Cape Fear River Program Technical Committee is responsible for setting up and guiding the water quality monitoring activities. The following is a list of organizations which actively participate on the Technical Committee.
