Southeastern North Carolina organizations are coming together to promote connecting and celebrating area waterways while addressing pollution in the region with Cape Fear Creek Week.
The effort taking place Monday through Sunday includes programs led by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension and New Hanover County Arboretum, Wilmington’s Heal our Waterways, Cape Fear River Watch, North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District, Alliance for Cape Fear Trees, town of Leland and North Carolina Coastal Federation.
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In its second year for Cape Fear, the campaign is part of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Creek Week Network education outreach partnership.
The Deep and Haw rivers converge in Chatham County to form the 200-mile-long Cape Fear River named after the offshore shoals that stretch for miles into the Atlantic Ocean from the river’s mouth. The river ends as a 35-mile-long estuary, which is home to dozens of aquatic species and flows directly into the ocean, according to NCDEQ.
Anna Reh-Gingerich, Wilmington’s watershed coordinator and Creek Week co-coordinator, told Coastal Review that Cape Fear Creek Week is a “wonderful opportunity” to connect with the unique creeks, rivers, marshes and more of the region.
“The City of Wilmington’s Heal Our Waterways Program, for example, offers resources and learning opportunities for how residents and businesses can take steps to protect waterways, like Bradley Creek and Hewletts Creek in Wilmington,” Reh-Gingerich said. “Participating in events like Cape Fear Creek Week gives us a chance to spread awareness about such programs, while also celebrating the waterways they aim to protect. Without the vital cultural, environmental, and economic resources our waterways provide us, the Cape Fear Region would not be what it is today.”
Amy Mead, interim Cooperative Extension director for Brunswick County and Creek Week co-coordinator, said that the educational campaign gives the community a chance to celebrate and learn about the streams and waterways that make the region “such a special place to live.”
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“Residents and policymakers alike can learn ways to protect our local water quality through volunteer opportunities, educational talks, and stormwater tours throughout New Hanover and Brunswick Counties,” Mead said. “Water is not only essential for life, but it is also the foundation upon which our community thrives,” adding that through stewardship and education, the Cooperative Extension and its partners “work to protect our precious water resources for generations to come.”
The New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District is scheduled to kick off the week with a Walking Tour of Wade Park at 3:30 p.m. Monday. The hourlong, family-focused walk at the 17-acre park with Program Coordinator Jessica Stitt will focus on water quality and why it is important for the species living in the wetland. Visit the website to register or for more information.
The North Carolina Coastal Federation is hosting DREAMS Rain Garden Maintenance at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the DREAMS Center for Art Education, which supports each year more than 600 youth in Wilmington. The stormwater retrofits and native plants in the rain garden help to capture, absorb and filter polluted stormwater runoff from entering into Burnt Mill Creek. Volunteers can expect activities like weeding, mulching, and clearing debris in the gardens, including the “Secret Garden” unveiled last year in collaboration with the Coastal Landscapes Initiative. Volunteers can register online.
Coastal Federation Education Coordinator Bonnie Mitchell said that as an organization dedicated to safeguarding clean and clear coastal waters, the Coastal Federation works hard to alleviate the detrimental effects of polluted stormwater runoff. The nonprofit organization publishes Coastal Review.
“Cape Fear Creek Week serves as an invaluable platform for uniting our community in awareness of these impacts and showcasing the nature-based strategies implemented to combat stormwater runoff,” Mitchell explained.
She added that as part of the week’s festivities, the Coastal Federation is hosting the volunteer event aimed at maintaining existing stormwater reduction projects and nurturing native plants crucial for absorbing and filtering runoff.
“We hope that our volunteer event along with all the great events happening this week will inspire individuals to adopt stormwater reduction techniques within their homes and businesses, thus contributing to the preservation of our creeks and the coastal ecosystems they empty into,” Mitchell said.
Learn about birds in the area and a newly adopted conservation plan during a Walking Tour of Pages Creek 1 p.m. Wednesday. New Hanover County Soil and Water Conservation District Director Dru Harrison and its program director Stitt will lead the tour. Meet at 1215 Middle Sound Loop Road in Wilmington. Visit the website for information and to register.
“Our creeks, rivers and other waterways are so important here in New Hanover County for many reasons. From fishing to tourism to recreation, they are a piece of what makes our community so unique,” Harrison said in a statement. “Learning about their impact and how to protect them is a vital part of Cape Fear Creek Week and we look forward to our residents getting engaged and joining us in the efforts to preserve our waterways.”
The town of Leland and Cape Fear River Watch are coordinating Storm Drain Marking service activity at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The project includes permanently gluing stainless steel markings on storm drains and distributing door hangers explaining the importance of keeping stormwater free of pollution. Project is for all ages, but those under 16 must be accompanied by a registered adult. Marissa Blackburn, environmental education manager at Cape Fear River Watch, is leading the event. Register online.
Alliance for Cape Fear Trees Executive Director Dan Camacho is leading a presentation on “The Power of Trees” at 2 p.m. Thursday and the many benefits, including the protection and enhancement of creeks and waterways. Camacho will speak for about 45 minutes at the Arboretum. Register online.
Camacho said in an interview that the alliance “obviously values trees, but of course, that concern extends to the environment and our creeks and waterways. Healthy creeks and waterways require a healthy tree canopy. In terms of flood management and stormwater pollution, the leaves of trees capture rain before it ever hits the ground (and allows it to evaporate) and the roots of trees retain and filter water and prevent soil and pollutants from reaching our waterways.”
The Stormwater Infrastructure Walking Tour of Clear Run Branch is at 10 a.m. Friday, March 22. Stormwater engineers Amber Ellis with N.C. State University’s Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, and Fred Royal with the city of Wilmington will give a detailed look at retrofit stormwater control measures and a whole system refit including flood plain restoration of Clear Run Branch in Wilmington. Hosted by the city, Heal our Waterways and N.C. Cooperative Extension. Register online.
The North Carolina Coastal Land Trust is leading an educational Brunswick Nature Park Hike at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 23, with a focus on Town Creek, saltwater intrusion, and human impacts on area waterways. Water and snacks will be provided. Register online for more information and parking details.
Cooperative Extension Agent Elizabeth Stratton, who heads up 4-H Youth Development, is leading with Cape Fear River Watch the Kerr Ave. Cleanup & Business Outreach Saturday, March 23. Cape Fear River Watch and New Hanover County 4-H are working together to clean up Kerr Avenue to protect nearby streams. For more information on how to join the event, visit the 4-H website or contact Stratton at ekstratt@ncsu.edu.
“Time spent outdoors and in natural spaces as a young person has a significant impact on their connection to nature as well as their physical and mental well-being as they get older,” Stratton told Coastal Review.
“It is important to leave a legacy of clean natural spaces for the upcoming generation and encourage them to be active members of their community which starts as a young person in events like this,” Stratton continued. “Youth are the future. By providing opportunities for them to participate in environmental stewardship now, there is a greater possibility that they will continue that throughout their life, contributing to our thriving community.”
A detailed schedule of events is listed on the Brunswick County Cooperative Extension’s website.
