These e-mail updates alert members to pertinent issues and inform readers of upcoming actions, activities, and volunteer opportunities. By registering as a volunteer, you will automatically receive these alerts, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Cape Fear River Watch has committed itself to the long term task of preserving and restoring fish populations to the entire Cape Fear River. A major component of this mission will be the establishment of large scale rock weirs at the three lock and dam combinations along the river. CFRW is reaching out to work with the Army Corps or Engineers, NC Wildlife Resource Commission, NC DENR, and US FWS on this mission. See the full position of the Advocacy Committee and Board of Directors here or more information about this initiative here.

Cape Fear River Watch has joined with the the Catawba, Neuse, New, Tar-Pamlico, Waccamaw and Yadkin RIVERKEEPER® organizations to strenuously oppose Duke Energy's proposed new Coal-Fired Power Plant near Shelby, NC. This is a large project and the fight against it will not be short or simple. Check for updates regularly.

In December our RIVERKEEPER®, Doug Springer, addressed the New Hanover County Board of Commisioners, urging them to protect endangered marshland at the confluence of the Cape Fear River and the Northeast Cape Fear River. Read the full text of his statement

The controversial Gateway Project proposed for land along the Cape Fear River on the eastern end of the Memorial Bridge in Wilmington is of particular interest to Cape Fear River Watch. Not only does the project call for large scale redevelopment of a large brownfields area on the river, but the land to be developed is directly across the street from CFRW’s Environmental Education Center on Surry Street. In January Cape Fear RIVERKEEPER® Doug Springer addressed the Wilmington City Council with concerns about the proposed project. Doug's full statement is available.

In 2005, CFRW joined the North Carolina C8 Working Group - an alliance of conservation groups created in response to concerns about C8 discharges from a DuPont plant located on the Cape Fear River near Fayetteville. The C8 Working Group is committed to determining the cause of the release of C8 - a substance used in the production of Teflon and ruled a "likely human carcinogen" by the EPA - and to ensuring that proper measures are taken to resolve the problem.

RIVERKEEPER® Doug Springer recently wrote to DENR to clarify the role of the state in monitoring C8 in Fayetteville. CFRW and its partners in the C8 working group are keeping the pressure on from their end - keep the calls and letters going to your representatives as well.

The health of the Cape Fear River and most other rivers in Eastern North Carolina continues to be endangered by runoff from the many industrial hog operations in the watershed. Elimination of " Hog Lagoons " from the Cape Fear River watershed remains one of Cape Fear River Watch &lsquos priorites and we hope it’s one of yours as well. Read the open letter sent last February by a consortium of likeminded organizations to the General Assembly. Feel free to use it as a model for your own calls and letters.

For more information on the ongoing fight against swine feces in the river, browse Rick Dove’s excellent website on the matter on behalf of the Waterkeeper Alliance.

The Advocacy Committee works actively on water quality-related issues such as environmentally sustainable development, hog lagoon regulations, wetland preservation and restoration, vegetative wetland retention, oyster reseeding, and recycling.

We support this coalition of North Carolina local governments and organizations advocating setting aside $200 million a year for five years to protect our state's unique natural habitats. Conserving this land will help improve air and water quality and guarantee the safety of areas of historical and ecological significance.