Cape Fear River Basin!

Cape Fear River Basin!

By: Emily Walls

Location of Cape Fear River Basin and its main tributaries!

The Cape Fear River Basin starts in the north central Piedmont region, near Highpoint and Greensboro. It ends on the coast near Wilmington. It is the largest river basin in all of North Carolina. It is also only contained in North Carolina.

The river basin contains all or part of 27 counties including: Alamance, Bladen, Brunswick, Caswell, Chatham, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Orange, Pender, Randolph, Robeson, Rockingham, Sampson, Wake, and Wayne county.

Animal Life!

There is a lot of animal life in the Cape Fear River Basin. The animal life include: Fish, Crabs, Shrimp, Deer, Bears, Wild Boars, Livestock, Swine, The Saint Francis Salyr ( a butterfly) ,The Shiner- a small endangered minnow, The Shortnose sturgeon, The Red-Cockaded woodpecker, The West Indian manatee, The American Alligator, The Loggerhead sea turtle, The Eastern Cougar, and The Southeast Bald Eagle. Many of These animals are either endangered or threatened to be endangered.

Plant Life!

Human Population/ Large Cities!

The different species of plants in the Cape Fear River Basin include: Long- Leaf Pine Savannahs, Old growth forests, Carolina Bays, and Lime stinks. There are twenty-seven endangered plan species.

The human population in the Cape Fear River Basin is 2,072,305.

The largest cities in the Cape Fear River Basin include:

• Wilmington
• Durham
• Highpoint
• Fayetteyille
• Greensboro

Pollution Concerns!

There is low oxygen in the water. Fish and Aquatic animals need oxygen in the water to live. So the lower the oxygen gets the more fish are going to die. Sediment is also a major pollutant, but there are other's too from animal and toxic wastes, nutrients, and oxygen-demanding wastes. This pollution comes from urban storm-water, construction, agriculture, and wastewater treatment plants. North Carolina State University researchers are doing 15 water quality projects and programs within the Cape Fear River Basin to help these pollution problems. The projects are very diverse, from animal waste control to pesticide fate to watershed management and demonstration projects. Most are related to agricultural activities but some target protection of urban water resources. They are also conducting 17 regional projects for the river basin. Some targeting the effects of water pollution on aquatic resources, while others focus on the control of polluted runoff from agricultural land uses.

Bibliography!

Summary of positive features!

http://www.water.ncsu.edu/capefear.html

http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/riverbasins-interactive.html

http://uncw.edu/riverrun/river_tutorial/CFRSystem.htm

The Cape Fear River Basin is a very big and diverse region. It has a lot of different animal and plant species. It is 9,164 square miles big and has a huge population. It goes through most of North Carolina and empties into the Atlantic Ocean! It has very many tourist attractions and is a great tourist destination! It is the biggest river basin in North Carolina. It is home of many endangered and threatened animal and plant species! Cape Fear River is 200 miles long! The Cape Fear River Basin is a wonderful, beautiful, and exotic place!

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