First, I want to say that I am humbled and at the same time excited by the opportunity to be your new Cape Fear RIVERKEEPER® ® and Executive Director. Cape Fear River Watch, Inc. established itself as a credible non-profit organization focused on the health and welfare of the Lower Cape Fear River in the mid 1990’s.

Building on the Legacy
A rich and diverse legacy was built upon the people that cared about some- thing other than themselves. They lived and breathed what they believed in. Bouty Baldridge, our first RIVERKEEPER®, through his passion and commitment to his values gave life to the river and the organization. Our first Cape Fear RIVERKEEPER® ® led the way, showing and teaching us as he learned himself. He was unwavering in his determination to understand and improve the environmental quality of the Lower Cape Fear River Basin. Bouty was the voice of a river that could not speak for itself.

I intend to continue to build on what Bouty Baldridge, his father Dickson Baldridge, Bruce Watkins, “Buck” Watkins, the other River Watch charter members, and those that followed have continued to work so hard to build. I understand that I must earn the position as your RIVERKEEPER®.

The Importance of the River
The Cape Fear River is alive! Making my living on it and spending much time on it has been a real eye opener. I have found hatcheries created by fresh water springs that boil into the brackish waters of the Cape Fear. At such a hatchery we recently came upon a large pod of 12 porpoise. They were feeding, jumping and playing as if they were in the ocean itself. This area was over four miles north of downtown Wilmington. I am sure they have been coming here for centuries. We have seen lone Stripers rip through the tide lines, small sturgeon sounding in front of our boat, sharks jumping 3 or 4 foot into the air. Black Bear swimming the river, Osprey weighted down carrying their catch to their young, alligators fat and happy on the banks, and otters enjoying their fish dinner.

Success Factors

• We must develop an active membership
• We must be led by our membership and spear headed by a strong board.
• We must be diverse and reach out into the Community and surrounding Counties.
• We must learn from our diverse community.
• We must make it easy for Students, Young Families & their Children to be involved with us.

Recruiting Talented People

In conclusion, to do this we will need your support to spread the word and bring your friends and business connections up to speed and encourage them to support CFRW financially as well as with their various talents. Let us know if you are interested in serving as a Board Members, or are willing to serve on our Leadership and Technical Advisory Boards.

We will need the energy and intelligence of our young, the wisdom and knowledge that exist in our diverse communities, and the experience of our community and business leaders. The end result will be an awesome success story with measurable results. The potential return on your investment is almost unimaginable. It is one that we and future generations will benefit from. It will be fun as we challenge ourselves and our community.

Doug Springer, RIVERKEEPER® and Executive Director
Cape Fear River Watch, Inc.