Cape Fear River Expedition
John Pugh (GOPC Staff Member) will be paddling the length of the Cape Fear River to raise awareness of water quality within the Cape Fear Basin. He will begin on November 1, and will take approximately 11 days to paddle the 200 miles to the mouth of the river near Southport, NC.
Cape Fear River Basin: The Cape Fear River is formed by the confluence of the Deep and Haw rivers in southeastern Lee County. The Cape Fear Basin (watershed) is the largest North Carolina, containing over 9,000 square miles. The watershed is under tremendous development pressure, with over 100 acres of forest and cropland lost each day.
As North Carolina’s population continues to increase, the need for adequate protection of its water resources become more acute. Riparian zone restoration, land trusts, enforcement of environmental regulations, and sustainable development are all key components to providing clean water for generations to come.
A number of agencies and organizations are involved in this effort as well. If your group or media outlet would like more information, please feel free to contact us for more information.
Education and Outreach
The Wake County Department of Environmental Services has donated a water quality meter for use during the journey. During his 10-12 days on the water, John will be testing several parameters (dissolved oxygen, turbidity, etc) and will be posting the results from the river. He is also working with several middle school classes before, during, and after the trip via email and class discussions.
MORE INFO:
http://www.sourcetosea.net/CapeFear/overview.html
