Cape Fear River Watch, Inc.

	Cape Fear River Watch, Inc.
	Environmental Education, Advocacy and Action for the Lower Cape Fear River Basin

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Cape Fear River Watch, Inc.
617 Surry St.
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: (910) 762-5606

Fish Restoration in the Cape Fear River


	An Old Problem, A New Initiative The Cape Fear River provides spawning habitat for anadromous fish including striped bass, shad, river herring, and the endangered short and long nosed sturgeon. Since 1915, when construction of the lock and dam system began, populations of these native fish have decreased by 90% due to reduced access to spawning habitat. Recent state and university studies indicate the locks and dams pose significant impediments to the migration of anadromous fish. As the fishery has declined so have the associated economic and recreational opportunities that the fishery made possible. On the other hand, the dams cannot be readily removed because they impound much of our region's drinking water.
Rock ramps are structures on or around artificial barriers such as dams that facilitate anadromous fishes' natural migration to their fresh water spawning areas upstream and provide reinforcement to the dam structure. Most rock ramps enable fish to traverse a barrier by swimming and leaping up a series of relatively low steps into the water on the high side of the barrier. The velocity of the water falling over the rocks has to be great enough to attract fish to the ramp, but cannot be so great that it exhausts them to the point that they are unable to continue their journey upriver. The rock ramps that Cape Fear River Watch propose installing along the locks and dams on the Cape Fear River will consist of large boulders and piles of rocks to create pools and small waterfalls that mimic natural structures. This allows fish to climb upstream while leaving the natural environment unharmed. Among the fish expected to benefit from retrofitting the Cape Fear River dams are Shad, Herring, Striped Bass and the endangered Shortnose Sturgeon. Click here to learn more about the Shortnose Sturgeon.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND RECREATIONAL BENEFITS:

Restores balance to the Cape Fear River ecosystem.
The North Carolina Department of Marine Fisheries can proceed with plans to restore healthy populations of anadromous fish with the knowledge that these fish will be able to make their annual spawning runs.

Preserves endangered sturgeon species.
Protects impounded drinking water for current and future generations.
Allows continued recreational boating along the entire length of the Cape Fear.

FINANCIAL BENEFIT:
The Ripple Effect:
A healthy Cape Fear River fishery will have far-reaching positive economic impacts across our region. Income from sport-fishing, food-fishing, and tourism will energize the regional economy.

$2,895,450 per year benefit from striped bass.
$749,000 per year benefit from American shad.

$1,559,870 per year benefit from river herring.
Over $5 million per year total fishery incomes!*
* Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service

OUR GOALS:

Ensure that North Carolina receives federal funding to support the installation of rock weirs at all three locks and dams.
Establish a foundation to fund and support the ongoing effort to restore anadromous fish in the Cape Fear River.

OUR STRATEGY:

Recruit business community, local, state and federal agencies, and environmental and community organizations to our campaign and encourage them to endorse the rock weir solution.

Ultimately, funds must be allocated to the State of North Carolina to complete the project before the window of opportunity to restore our fishery closes forever. A committed and united community sends a clear message that we are standing up for this important cause. Our state and federal governments need to clearly understand what is at stake for North Carolina and our nation.

How Can You Help?

Support the first annual Cape Fear River Watch Invitational Striper Tournament. Designed to involve the community, this event will raise awareness of the economic and recreational benefits—and environmental necessity—of restoring the striped bass, sturgeon, shad and river herring fishery to the Cape Fear River.
Proceeds will go toward a foundation to re–establish and maintain our fishery, and with it, the numerous rewards for visitors and residents of the Cape Fear River.
Financially support Cape Fear River Watch so that we can continue our call for action at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure that money is allocated to North Carolina in a timely manner.
Sign on in support of constructing rock ramps at all three locks and dams to demonstrate overwhelming support behind this solution and demand action.