Water Quality in the Lower Cape Fear River System, 1996-1997

1.0 Introduction

    The Cape Fear River Program is a unique science and education program which has a mission 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. This Program provides a forum for dialogue among the various Cape Fear River user groups, and encourages interaction among them. Overall policy is set by an Advisory Board consisting of representatives from citizen’s groups, industries, academia, the business community, and regulatory agencies.
    The scientific core of the Program consists of the development and implementation of a basinwide coordinated physical, chemical, and biological monitoring program. An associated part of the mission is to develop and maintain a data base on the Cape Fear basin and make use of this data to develop management plans. Using this monitoring data as a framework, the Program goals also include focused scientific projects and investigation of pollution episodes. The scientific aspects of the Program are carried out by investigators from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Center for Marine Science Research. The monitoring program was developed by the Cape Fear River Program Technical Committee, which consists of representatives from UNCW, the North Carolina Division of Water Quality, the NC Division of Marine Fisheries, the US Army Corps of Engineers, technical representatives from streamside industries, the New Hanover County Wastewater Treatment Plant, the US Geological Survey and other organizations. This integrated and cooperative program is the first of its kind in North Carolina.
    Broad-scale monthly water quality sampling at 16 stations in the estuary and lower river system began in June 1995. Sampling was increased to 34 stations in February of 1996. Detailed information is presented in this report for all 34 stations from June 1996 to May 1997, and comparisons are made with previous data as well. The water quality program includes numerous physical, chemical and biological parameters. By virtue of the large number of stations sampled and the regular frequency of sampling the CFR Program is providing the most comprehensive set of water quality data available to date for the lower Cape Fear watershed.
    In spring of 1995 an additional biotic component of the Program was added. An extensive study of the benthic infaunal community was initiated in the estuary, the lower Cape Fear River, and the lower Northeast Cape Fear River. This component is directed by Dr. Martin Posey of the UNCW Biology Department and has been bolstered by additional studies funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
    The Cape Fear River Program has recently (January 1997) added another component concerned with studying the fisheries ecology of the system. This component is directed by Dr. Mary Moser of the UNCW Center for Marine Science Research and involves monthly sampling at numerous stations by three different gear types. This program has the benefit of cooperative sampling with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commision.

1.1  Site Description

    The mainstem of the Cape Fear River is formed by the merging of the Haw and the Deep Rivers in Chatham County in the North Carolina piedmont. However, its drainage basin reaches as far upstream as the Greensboro area (Fig. 1.1). The mainstem of the river has been altered by several dams and water control structures. In the coastal plain the river is joined by two major tributaries, the Black and the Northeast Cape Fear Rivers (Fig. 1.1). These blackwater streams drain extensive riverine swamp forests and add organic color to the mainstem. The watershed is the most heavily industrialized in North Carolina, with 641 NPDES discharges (NCDEHNR 1996a) and approximately 27% of the state’s population (NRCS 1995). Approximately 25% of the land use in the watershed is devoted to agriculture and livestock production (NCDNR 1983; EA Engineering 1991), particularly swine and poultry operations. Thus, the watershed receives considerable point and non-point source loading of pollutants.
    Water quality was sampled at nine stations (M18, M23, M35, M42, M54, M61, BRR, HB, and NAV) the Cape Fear Estuary and one station (NCF6) in the Northeast Cape Fear Estuary (Table 1.1; Fig. 1.1). Five freshwater stations were sampled in the Cape Fear River (NC11, BLL, LVC, AC, and IC), two (B210 and BBT) in the Black River, and two (NCF117 and NCF41) in the Northeast Cape Fear River. Fifteen other creek stations distributed throughout the Cape Fear, Black and Northeast Cape Fear watersheds were also sampled for water quality(Table 1.1; Fig. 1.1). Benthic fauna and fisheries data were acquired from a number of these same locations, as well as a fwew additional sitesnoted within this report.

Table 1.1. Description of sampling locations in the Cape Fear Watershed, 1996-1997, including UNCW designation, NCDEM map number, and GPS coordinates.

High order river and estuary stations

Small order stream stations

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