Cape Fear River Watch

Third Saturday Paddle: Burnt Mill to Smith Creek
2022-08-20 07:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Archie Blue Community Park, 1601 Wynnwood St., Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Meet at the CFRW office at 617 Surry St. at 7:30 am
OR, at the put in at Archie Blue Community Park at 8:10 am.

All paddlers should wear a PFD and those using CFRW boats are required to wear a PFD. Other items to consider bringing: sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water, snack and water shoes.
Need a boat?

Boat rentals are for members only with a suggestion donation of: $25
Non-members are encourage to join today!
Boat rental choices offered during online registration are first-come, first-served and include single or tandem kayaks and canoes.
Once you receive your email confirmation, your boat has been confirmed and we will see you the day of the paddle.

Have a boat?

Please consider a donation of at least $10 during online registration or bring a check or cash with you on the day of the event.

If you need help the day of the paddle, please call Kemp at 910-264-8036.
Please register by noon on Friday, August 19th. REGISTER HERE.

August Second Saturday Cleanup
2022-08-13 09:00 - 11:00 | Railroad at N 30th St., 2929 Princess Place Dr., Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Cape Fear River Watch is excited to partner with Keep New Hanover Beautiful for our Second Saturday Cleanup on August 13th! The cleanup will take place in the Smith Creek Watershed at the intersection of Princess Place Dr. and 30th from 9:00am-11:00am. We will be heading East and West along the railroad tracks. Parking is available at 2929 Princess Pl Dr, Wilmington, NC 28405. Just look for the CFRW cleanup signs! CFRW will provide pickers, bags, gloves, and safety vests. As always remember to dress appropriately and bring water. We hope to see you out there!
Please register beforehand here.

June/July Book Club
2022-07-23 10:30 - 12:00 | Pomegranate Books, 4418 Park Ave, Wilmington, NC, 28403, United States
Our next book selection is The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons by John Wesley Powell.

This book is a story about a “journey no human being had ever made before” and copies are NOW AVAILABLE at Pomegranate Books for a 15% discount!

Legendary pioneer John Wesley Powell’s The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons is a first-person account of his crew’s unprecedented odyssey along the Green and Colorado Rivers and through the Grand Canyon. A bold foray into the heart of the American West’s final frontier, the expedition was achieved without benefit of modern river-running equipment, supplies, or a firm sense of the region’s perilous topography and the attitudes of the native inhabitants.”

Our next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, July 23, 2022…10:30AM outside at Pomegranate Books (Weather Permitting).

Third Saturday Paddle Series: Black River
2022-07-16 08:30 - 15:00 | Hunt’s Bluff Wild Life Boat Ramp, 352 Hunts Bluff Rd, Kelly, NC, 28448, United States
PLEASE REGISTER HERE

Meet at the CFRW office at 617 Surry St. at 8:30 am
OR, at the put in at Hunt’s Bluff at 9:30 am.

After an easy 4-5 mile paddle we will take out near Point Caswell on Estate Road.
All paddlers should wear a PFD and those using CFRW boats are required to wear a PFD. Other items to consider bringing: sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water, snack and water shoes.
Need a boat?

Boat rentals are for members only with a suggestion donation of: $25
Non-members are encourage to join today!
Boat rental choices offered during online registration are first-come, first-served and include single or tandem kayaks and canoes.
Once you receive your email confirmation, your boat has been confirmed and we will see you the day of the paddle.
Please be aware that this paddle will require shuttling, so you will be in a car with others. Please bring your mask if that would make you feel more comfortable, or arrange to shuttle with family or friends.

Have a boat?

Please consider a donation of at least $10 during online registration or bring a check or cash with you on the day of the event.

If you need help the day of the paddle, please call Kemp at 910-264-8036.

Leland Community Cleanup
2022-06-18 09:00 - 11:00 | S. Navassa Rd, 152 S Navassa Rd, Leland, NC, United States
Help us clean up S Navassa Rd in the Sturgeon Creek watershed! This cleanup will be located at the site of the future Sturgeon Creek Park!
Navigate to 152 S Navassa Rd – look for CFRW cleanup signs! We will provide everything you need in terms of cleanup supplies: pickers, gloves, buckets, and bags. Be sure that you bring plenty of water and sun protection. Hope to see you there!
Please register beforehand here!

June Second Saturday Cleanup
2022-06-11 09:00 - 11:00 | Railroad Tracks 3rd-17th, 811 Martin St, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Please register in advance here!
We will once again be partnering with Keep New Hanover Beautiful to host our monthly second Saturday cleanup on June 11th from 9-11am.
We are going to focus our efforts on the Greenfield Lake Watershed by cleaning up the railroad tracks that run from 3rd to 17th St. The railroad tracks, the roadway, and the storm drains will all need to be cleaned.
To arrive, navigate to 811 Martin St. This address will lead you to the Good Shepherd Center. Please don’t park in their parking lot – rather, park on either 8th St or Martin St. Look for the CFRW cleanup signs!
There is potential for some of our houseless community members to be in the area of our cleanup. Please be respectful of their space and belongings. If you see something that may be someone’s personal belongings, please leave it be. We will provide pickers, bags, safety vests, gloves, and a good time. We will need some volunteers to clean up the interior of the ditch. So if you have your waders or tall rubber boots, bring them! As always remember to dress appropriately, bring sunscreen, and water. We hope to see you out there!

State of the River
2022-06-01 08:00 - 13:35 | CFCC’s Windell Daniels Hall, 502 N Front St, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
We hope that you can attend our first ever State of the River form! This event is free and open to all and vegetarian/vegan breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Space is limited! Please make sure to register for this event so that we can get a head count. You can register HERE.
Our primary goals in hosting this event are 1) to educate the public and decision-makers and 2) effect change. We think this event will provide attendees a useful opportunity to learn from experts and also discuss and brainstorm – face-to-face – on ways we can work together to address some of the challenges facing our basin and the state as a whole.
The State of the River will be held on Wednesday, June 1st, at CFCC’s Windell Daniels Hall, downtown Wilmington overlooking the Cape Fear River. Doors open at 8:00am.
Please review the timeline of events for the day:

8:00 – 8:30 a.m. – Doors open. Please check in at our membership table. Complimentary pastries and coffee will be provided
8:30 – 8:50 – Video message from the Attorney General Josh Stein followed by opening remarks from the President of the NC NAACP Deborah Dix-Maxwell
8:50-9:05 – Introduction by Cape Fear Riverkeeper Kemp Burdette
9:05-9:40 – CFRW Board Member and UNCW Senior Lecturer Roger Shew presents on Lower Cape Fear River Estuary Current Status and Future Projections
9:40-10:15 – Cape Fear River Partnership Coordinator and Coastal Scientist Dawn York presents on Returning Fish to Historical Spawning Grounds and gives an update on partnership efforts
10:15-10:25 – Break
10:25-11:00 – CFRW Executive Director Dana Sargent presents on PFAS Contamination
11:00-11:35 – Cape Fear Riverkeeper Kemp Burdette presents on Contamination from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
11:35-12:35 – Complimentary Lunch (vegetarian) & networking
12:35-1:35 – Panel discussion and Q&A featuring Sherri White-Williamson (Environmental Justice Policy Director at NC Conservation Network), Kerri Allen (Coastal Advocate and Senior Manager at NC Coastal Federation), Jean Zhuang (Staff Attorney at Southern Environmental Law Center), and Dr. Detlef Knappe (Distinguished Professor at NC State University)
1:35-1:45 – Closing remarks and call to action by NC Black Alliance/Democracy Green’s Deputy Director La’Meshia Whittington

If you would like to support this event, please consider making a donation or becoming a CFRW member.
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
The Cape Fear River Watch Team
P.S. If you’re not already, we’d love to have you follow us on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter and sign up for our eNewsletter!

April/May Book Club
2022-05-28 10:30 - 12:30 | Pomegranate Books, 4418 Park Ave, Wilmington, NC, 28403, United States
Thanks to everyone who attended the last meeting to discuss River-Horse: A Journey Across America by William Least Heat-Moon, and a special thanks to member Fred Bingham for leading it!
Our book selection for April/May 2022 is a deep dive into environmental history from the formation of the U.S. Constitution to the national tragedy of Hurricane Katrina and water wars out West titled, The Source: How Rivers Made America and America Remade Its Rivers by Doyle Martin
“America has more than 250,000 rivers, coursing over more than 3 million miles and serving as integral trade routes, borders, passageways, sewers, and sinks. Over the years, based on our shifting needs and values, we have harnessed their power with water-wheels and dams, straightened them for ships, drained them with irrigation canals, set them on fire, and even attempted to restore them. This environmental history tells the story of America and its rivers, from the U.S. Constitution’s roots in interstate river navigation, the origins of the Army Corps of Engineers, the discovery of gold in 1848, and the construction of the Hoover Dam and the TVA during the New Deal, to the failure of the levees in Hurricane Katrina and the water wars in the west. Along the way, it explores how rivers have often been the source of arguments at the heart of the American experiment―over federalism, sovereignty and property rights, taxation, regulation, conservation, and development.”
Our next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 10:30AM outside at Pomegranate Books (Weather Permitting).
CFRW Book Club members receive a 15% discount at Pomegranate Books (910) 452-1107.

May Third Saturday Paddle: Keg & Shark's Tooth Island
2022-05-21 07:30 - 14:00 | River Road Park, 6500 River Road, Wilmington, NC, 28412, United States
Register here.
Join us as we continue to explore the Cape Fear River by boat! This month we will be paddling around Keg Island and Shark’s Tooth Island. This will be an out and back paddle so there will be no shuttle. We will be departing from River Road Park. You can either meet us at the CFRW office at 7:30 for a caravan to River Rd Park, or you can meet us there at 8:15am.
We encourage all paddlers to wear a PFD, and we require all paddlers using CFRW boats to wear one. Other items to remember include sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water, snack and water shoes if you would like to explore the beaches where oyster shells are present.
*Strong wind and foul weather can effect this paddle more than others due to its location. We will be monitoring the forecast and if predictions indicate that their will be strong winds we will likely cancel this paddle. If we cancel we will notify those who have signed up by email on Friday night or Saturday morning.
We have a limited number of boats available for rent for CFRW members ($15 per boat; includes PFD and paddle). If you would like to rent a boat please indicate such during your registration. You can register here.
If you would like to join or renew before the paddle, you can click here to join or renew or call Audrey at 910-762-5606. To help River Watch continue to bring you great programs like our Paddle Series and Educational Seminars, we ask you make a $10 donation either online with your registration or by bringing cash or check to the paddle on Saturday. THANK YOU!
If you need help the day of please call Kemp at 910-264-8036. Conditions may change in the period leading up to the paddle. Please check your email the night before and the morning of the paddle to ensure that the paddle has not been cancelled.

May Second Saturday Cleanup
2022-05-14 09:00 - 11:00 | Emerson St., 4151 Emerson St., Wilmington, NC, 28403, United States
CFRW will be partnering with Keep New Hanover Beautiful to host our monthly Second Saturday Cleanup on May 14th, from 9-11am. We are going to focus our efforts on the Burnt Mill Creek Watershed by cleaning up the ditch off of Emerson St. The ditch is physically located on Emerson Street, just south of Marlboro St. Park along Emerson St. in the gravel pull off areas. Look for the CFRW cleanup signs! We will provide pickers, bags, safety vests, gloves, and a good time. We will need some volunteers to clean up the interior of the ditch. So if you have your waiters or waterproof boots bring them! As always remember to dress appropriately, bring sunscreen, and water. We hope to see you out there!
Please register beforehand here.

May First Saturday Seminar: The Plastic Pandemic
2022-05-07 08:00 - 10:30 | Cape Fear River Watch Headquarters, 617 Surry Street, Wilmington, NC, 28405, United States
We hope you can join us for our May First Saturday Seminar, which will be our first IN PERSON seminar since the beginning of COVID! We can’t wait to share coffee and pancakes with you at our office. CFRW staff members Rob Clark and Audrey Dunn will be discussing the growing plastics crisis, including plastic’s dire environmental impacts from production to disposal (or lack thereof) as well as CFRW’s work to combat plastic pollution in our area. Check out Audrey and Rob’s bios here.
For those who would prefer to attend via Zoom, that option will be available, and you can register for that here.
For everyone who wants to attend in person, please register here.
The seminar will be held at our office (617 Surry St.), with doors opening at 8am and the presentation beginning at 9am.

Kerr Ave Wetland Cleanup
2022-04-30 10:00 - 12:00 | Kerr Ave Wetland, 4502 Fountain Dr, Wilmington
Cape Fear River Watch is excited to partner with UNCW POP on a joint effort to clean up the Kerr Avenue Wetland. The Kerr Avenue Wetland is a critical resource in the Burnt Mill Creek Watershed that helps to filter out pollutants as they enter into Burnt Mill Creek. Now it’s up to us to do our part to help keep it clean! The cleanup is going to take place this Saturday (4/30) from 10am-12pm. CFRW and UNCW POP will be providing gloves, pickers, vests, and bags. We recommend that you bring sunscreen, water, and waterproof footwear (if you have them). Parking will be located at the UNCW Road Park and Ride location. The parking lot is located at the intersection of Hoggard Dr. and St. James Dr. It is a short walk down St. James Dr. to the wetlands from there. Staff members will be onsite to direct you to the cleanup. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Rob at rob@cfrw.us. We hope to see you out there!
Please register beforehand here

April Third Saturday Paddle - Town Creek
2022-04-16 08:00 - 12:00 | Town Creek at Brunswick Nature Park, 2601 River Rd SE, Winnabow, NC, 28479, United States
Please register beforehand for this event here.

This paddle will be an out and back and we will launch from the Brunswick County Nature Park. This is a really historically important creek and one of the first areas settled in our region. Traditionally rice was grown along these tributaries. It is also the largest tributary of the lower Cape Fear area! This is an easier paddle although we will be against the current during the first part of the paddle.

Meet us at the office at 7:30am or at the Brunswick County Nature Park at 8:15am. There are walking trails and shelters if you would like to bring a picnic lunch. Address: 2601 River Rd SE, Winnabow, NC 28479

If you need to rent a boat they are just $15 for the day – available to CFRW members only. We have 7 boats for rent this month, first come first served during registration! If you would like to join or renew before the paddle, you can call the office at 910-762-5606 or join or renew here.

To help River Watch continue to bring you great programs like our Paddle Series and Educational Seminars and Cleanups, we ask you make a $10 donation either online with your registration or by bringing cash or check to the paddle on Saturday.

If you need help the day of the paddle please call Kemp at 910-264-8036. Conditions may change in the period leading up to the paddle. Please check your email the night before and the morning of the paddle to ensure that the paddle has not been cancelled.

April 2nd Saturday Cleanup - Squash Branch
2022-04-09 09:00 - 11:00 | Greenfield Lake-Northern Finger, 1626 Lake Branch Dr, Wilmington, 28401
We are excited to once again partner with Keep New Hanover Beautiful for our April Second Saturday Cleanup!
Location:
We will be cleaning up in the Greenfield Lake watershed this month! We will be focusing our efforts on the northern finger of the lake at the intersection of East Lake Shore Drive and Lake Branch Drive (called Squash Branch). The litter tends to accumulate in this portion of the lake. Like last month, we will have the option to clean up via watercraft. We will have limited capacity with the amount of kayaks we are able to bring, so if you have our own and the means to transport it please do so!
You can find parking along the street. A hard address you can use to get you to the location is 1626 Lake Branch Dr, Wilmington, NC 28401.
What to Bring:
CFRW will provide pickers, gloves, safety vests, bags, and bug spray. If you have waterproof boots those are recommended for the shore banks. Don’t forget to bring your water and sunscreen.
You can register here.

April First Saturday Seminar
2022-04-02 09:00 - 10:30 | Online, NC, United States
Energy Trends and Issues in NC and the Role of Offshore Wind
Speaker: Roger Shew

Saturday, April 2nd
9:00 – 10:30 am
Virtual via ZOOM – Register HERE

Join us for our April First Saturday Seminar virtually via ZOOM. Roger Shew will be discussing energy trends and issues in NC and the role of offshore wind with comments on current sea level and high tide flooding issues in the Lower Cape Fear River. This will be our final ZOOM-only seminar! We will be returning to in-person Saturday Seminars at the CFRW Office beginning in May, though will continue to offer a ZOOM option for those that prefer to join from home! Register for April HERE.

Speaker Bio: Roger is a Geology and Environmental Science professor at UNCW and has been teaching since 1999. He is particularly interested in energy and water resources, coastal plain ecosystems, and other sustainability issues. He has served on the Board of Directors at Cape Fear River Watch since 2008 and additionally volunteers with the Coastal Federation and the Nature Conservancy. Roger grew up in Brunswick County and worked in the Energy Industry for 20 years.

GO FISH Fest
2022-03-27 13:00 - 16:00 | New Hanover County Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Dr, Wilmington, NC, 28403, United States
Do you fish in the Cape Fear River?
If so, do you consume what you caught?

If you answered yes then this festival is for you. Fish from the river may contain contaminants that could affect your health. Learn safe options for cooking and eating those fish while enjoying a family-friendly day of music, games, speakers, good food and cooking demonstrations
Come hungry as Poor Piggys BBQ and T’Geaux Boys food trucks will be onsite too.

For more information visit: bit.ly/fish-month

CFRW Used Boat Sale at Waterline
2022-03-26 13:00 - 17:00 | Waterline Brewing Co, 721 Surry St, Wilmington, 28401, United States
Join us on Saturday, March 26th at Waterline Brewing for an opportunity to listen to live music, drink some great local brew, purchase CFRW swag, renew your membership, enjoy some food from the Chrome Gnome food truck, and peruse our used kayaks and canoes! We will be selling about 10-15 of our small, used boats priced at $100-400 apiece.
We also invite members of the community to sell any of their small boats or gear such as paddles or life jackets, with an encouraged donation to CFRW of 10% of your sale. If you’re interested in doing so, send an email to Audrey at audrey@cfrw.us to arrange it.
Some other local community groups will also be on-site, and UNCW POP and Bootscrap will be hosting a large cleanup competition based out of Waterline starting at 10am. It’ll be a relaxing day of cleaning up, hanging out, buying boats, and drinking beer! Hope you can join us.

February/March Book Club
2022-03-26 10:30 - 12:00 | Pomegranate Books, 4418 Park Ave, Wilmington, NC, 28403, United States
This month’s book club will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at 10:30AM at Pomegranate Books.

River-Horse: A Journey Across America by William Least Heat-Moon

In River-Horse, the preeminent chronicler of American back roads recounts his singular voyage on American waters from sea to sea. Along the route, he offers a lyrical and ceaselessly fascinating shipboard perspective on the country’s rivers, lakes, canals, and landscapes. Brimming with history, drama, humor, and wisdom, River-Horse belongs in the pantheon of American travel literature.

In his most ambitious journey ever, Heat-Moon sets off aboard a small boat he named Nikawa (“river horse” in Osage) from the Atlantic at New York Harbor in hopes of entering the Pacific near Astoria, Oregon. He and his companion, Pilotis, struggle to cover some five thousand watery miles — more than any other cross-country river traveler has ever managed — often following in the wakes of our most famous explorers, from Henry Hudson to Lewis and Clark.

En route, the voyagers confront massive floods, submerged rocks, dangerous weather, and their own doubts about whether they can complete the trip. But the hard days yield up incomparable pleasures: strangers generous with help and eccentric tales, landscapes unchanged since Sacagawea saw them, riverscapes flowing with a lively past, and the growing belief that efforts to protect our lands and waters are beginning to pay off. And, throughout its course, the expedition enjoys coincidences so breathtaking as to suggest the intervention of a divine and witty Providence.

Teeming with humanity and high adventure, Heat-Moon’s account is an unsentimental and original arteriogram of our nation at the edge of the millennium.”

March Third Saturday Paddle - Rice Creek
2022-03-19 08:00 - 12:00 | Rice Creek, Rice Creek Boat Ramp, 797 Gordon Lewis Dr SE, Winnabow, NC, 28479, United States
Rice Creek paddle will be relatively easy – approximately 5 miles, quiet & shaded, and should take about 3 hours to complete. We will put in and take out at the WRC ramp on Rice Creek in Brunswick County. A map from CFRW to the put-in can be found HERE. You can put your address in box A and get directions from your house if you prefer to meet us at the put in.
We will have 8 boats available for rent for Cape Fear River Watch Members. We ask for a suggested donation of $15 to rent a boat for the day. If you would like to join or renew before the paddle, click here!
Register here to reserve your place and/or to rent your boat.
Paddlers can meet at the Cape Fear River Watch headquarters (617 Surry St.) where we will meet to caravan, or meet up with the caravan at the put in location. We will meet at CFRW headquarters at 7:30 am for an 8:00am departure. Those meeting us at the put in should be there by 8:15. All paddlers should wear a PFD. Other items to remember include sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water, snack and water shoes if you would like to explore the beaches where oyster shells are present.
To help River Watch continue to bring you great programs like our Paddle Series and Educational Seminars, we ask you make a $10 donation either online with your registration or by bringing cash or check to the paddle on Saturday. If you need help the day of the paddle please call Kemp at 910-264-8036. Conditions may change in the period leading up to the paddle. Please check your email the night before and the morning of the paddle to ensure that the paddle has not been cancelled.
PLEASE REGISTER for this event!

Birding at Greenfield Lake
2022-03-18 08:30 - 22:30 | Greenfield Lake Boathouse, 302 Willard St., Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Join us for a free birding walk along Greenfield Lake on Friday, March 18th at 8:30am! We’ll be guided by Becky Skiba, Regional Education Specialist at NC Wildlife Resources Commission. We’ll meet at the Greenfield Lake Boathouse (navigate to 302 Willard St., park by the tennis courts, and walk towards the lake – you’ll find the boathouse!). If you want to learn more or register, email marissa@cfrw.us.

CleanUp GreenUp!
2022-03-13 09:00 - 12:00 | Bellevue Cemetery, Princess Place Dr., Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
UPDATE: We have changed the date of the event to SUNDAY, MARCH 13th due to inclement weather on the 12th. We hope to see you on Sunday at 9am at Bellevue Cemetery!

We are so excited for our “CleanUp, GreenUp” event on Saturday, March 12th! Meet us at Bellevue Cemetery at 9am for a kickoff and greeting.

Based out of the Bellevue Cemetery, we will coordinate our efforts to beautify this part of downtown Wilmington through a trash cleanup and native tree planting!

We will have over 100 native and fruiting trees to plant! Please bring your own gloves if you have them.

Volunteers interested in the cleanup portion specifically will then need to make their way over to Rankin St (navigate to 13th and Rankin). Parking will be available along the street. We will be focusing on McCumbers Ditch as well as the easement area that runs alongside it. The tide should be approaching low while we are out there so if you have waders or muck boots, those would be much appreciated. We will provide pickers, gloves, safety vests, and bags. It may be a bit cold in the morning so make sure to dress appropriately. We hope to see you out there! If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Rob at rob@cfrw.us.
Please register beforehand for this event here: https://cfrw.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=7308&

March First Saturday Seminar
2022-03-05 09:00 - 11:00 | Online, NC, United States
March is Fish Consumption Month! Join us for our March First Saturday Seminar on Saturday, March 5th at 9:00 am via Zoom. Our presenters will share a summary of toxins found in fish and crabs in the Cape Fear River, including mercury, arsenic, chromium, and PCBs, and will discuss how those levels were used to determine fish consumption advisories for our area. We will also share updates from our community stakeholder partnership in advancing the Stop! Check! Enjoy! Campaign during the month of March and beyond.
Speakers
– Mozhgon Rajaee – Assistant Professor of Public Health at Oakland University
– Abigail Joyce – Research Scientist and Manager of the Analytical Chemistry Core with Duke University Superfund Research Center
-Veronia Carter – Town of Leland Councilmember
– Introduction by Chiara Klein, Program Coordinator for Community Engagement with Duke University Superfund Research Center
Zoom link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlfuChqjIpGd1tWxcXhnLjE-6GBsll8MKv
Dr. Mozhgon Rajaee is an Assistant Professor of Public Health at Oakland University in Michigan. She holds a Master of Science and a Master of Public Health and a PhD in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on environmental health and justice issues.
Dr. Abbey Joyce is a Research Scientist at Duke University where she is the manager of the Analytical Chemistry Core for Duke’s Superfund Research Center. Her research focuses on measuring and understanding environmental contaminants, notably PFAS.
Veronica Carter is a former Civil Servant (International and US) and retired Army officer with over 39 years’ experience in managing complex logistics operations, often under austere conditions. Veronica has served on the Board of Directors for Cape Fear and Brunswick County’s Habitat for Humanity affiliates and Town of Leland’s Parks and Recreation Board. In addition she serves on the Duke Superfund Advisory Board and was instrumental in starting the Brunswick County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), the County’s Long-Term Recovery Group. Veronica has devoted much of her time to ensuring Environmental Justice by empowering, advocating, and educating EJ communities in southeastern NC.
The Governor of North Carolina appointed Veronica to the Coastal Resources Commission, from 2008 through 2012 and she currently serves on the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Secretary’s Environmental Justice and Equity Board. She is a native of Brooklyn, New York and received her BA in Political Science from Fordham University and her MPA from Troy State University. She is a graduate of the United States Army’s Command and General Staff College.
In November 2019, Veronica was elected, and is currently serving as a Councilmember for the Town of Leland, North Carolina.

Disaster & Travel & Wilderness First Aid Certification Course
2022-03-05 08:00 - 2022-03-06 19:00 | Carolina Beach State Park, 1010 State Park Road, Carolina Beach, NC, 28428, United States
Walkabout Outfitter &
MEDIC Solo Disaster + Wilderness Medicine School
are hosting a

Disaster+Travel+Wilderness First Aid certification course
on
March 5-6th, 2022
in Carolina Beach State Park

LEARN HOW to SAVE LIFE and LIMB in a
-Wilderness area-rural area (not near a hospital)

-disaster site or
-travel anywhere

This is a great course for anyone who ventures outdoors, travels, or wants to help in case of an emergency during a disaster!

>> TIMING: These are a 2 day class. 8:00am to 7:00pm both days.

>> FEE: $225 (note: another organization in the region charges $305. You save $80 thanks in part to GOPC’s sponsorship of the class.)

WHY: Mired in a disaster zone, travel or rural area far from a hospital, or natural area miles from an access point … accidents, destructive weather, and terrorism happen, and all-too-often members of a group are not capable of dealing with the emergency. This leads to improper care of the patient, and endangers the entire group. Many recreational accidents are preventable, and improper care of trauma can compound even simple injuries. Very few first aid programs actually address the issues of providing emergency care in a setting where 911 is overwhelmed or not immediately reachable. In this course, classroom instruction and Q&A are interwoven with practical work and problem-solving exercises. Hands-on experience – a most powerful learning tool – during scenarios comprise ~50% of class. You come away with actual do-it-yourself care-giving confidence. Satisfaction guaranteed.OVERVIEW:
-No prerequisites
-For adults and focused teens. Know your loved ones are safe wherever they are.
-Hands-on learn how to care for an injured / ill person during the critical minutes or hours before ambulance / hospital arrival
-Blend of classroom instruction & hands-on rescue scenario practice
-Approved by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), Girl Scouts of the USA, American Camping Association (ACA), University of Virginia (100% reimbursement for certain academic employees), and more
-2-year SOLO WFA certification
-Counts as recertification for WFA, AWFA, WFR and wilderness part of W-EMT

TOPICS:-Beyond the ‘golden hour’: wilderness/remote travel/disaster-delayed EMS arrival injury challenges and long-term patient care
-Patient Assessment System: thorough patient examination, treatment, monitoring, safety, and documentation
-Orthopedic Injuries and Treatment: Sprains, Strains, Fractures, and Spinal Cord Management
-Circulatory System Form and Function: Heart, Blood, Blood Vessels, Lungs, Brain
-Soft Tissue Injuries and Wound Treatment: Contusions, Abrasions, Lacerations, Flap Avulsions, Amputation, Punctures, Impalements,
-Bites, Stings, Blisters, Burns, and Infections
-Environmental Injuries and Treatment: Cold, Heat, Dehydration and Wilderness Survival
-Medical Emergencies and Critical Care: Shock, Allergies, Shortness of Breath, Brain Problems, and Heart Problems
-Patient movement: spinal cord precautions and clearing; pre- and post-evacuation treatment
-International Travel: preparing & packing for safe travel, problem prevention before and during travel, and identification & treatment of many travel illnesses – presented in a special hand-out for those who indicate interest.
Instructor: Matthew Rosefsky, Geo Medic, Wilderness EMT, CERT, MRC, and SOLO Instructor-Trainer; or a top-notch, highly-qualified expert Matt personally trained.
Course INFO, ONLINE REGISTRATION, other locations & dates:

http://www.solowfa.com/
A fully completed registration and payment will reserve your spot in the class. Feel free to contact courses@solowfa.com with questions…

February Second Saturday Cleanup
2022-02-12 09:00 - 11:00 | Crossroads Center, 894-1 S Kerr Ave, Wilmington, 28403
Cape Fear River Watch is excited to announce our February Second Saturday Cleanup! February’s cleanup will be located in two separate locations. The first will be the drainage easement that runs behind Crossroads Center and Wilmington Brewing. The second location will be the southern continuation of that easement that runs behind Jackson BBQ. We will all meet at a central staging location which will be located at the parking lot of Crossroads Center. 894-1 S Kerr Ave, Wilmington, NC 28403 should get you to the right location.

This cleanup will be a special one as it will be in part of a larger week of action put on by the NC Plastics Waste Reduction Coalition to push an executive order that calls for the governor to reduce unnecessary single use plastics within state institutions. As many of you know, we find a lot of plastic at our cleanups. We want to bring that to the attention of our leadership at the state level, so we will be collecting a bit of data this go around! It will be pretty straightforward, just a data sheet and pen are needed! CFRW will be providing gloves, pickers, safety vests, bags, data sheets, and pens.

If anyone has waterproof knee boots please bring them: we will need some people to walk through the center of the ditch which typically has standing water in it. Please remember to dress warmly!

Since Covid cases are on the rise we will be trying to implement practices that allow for social distancing. Please keep this in mind when attending the event and do your best to respect others around you. Since this is an outdoor event and we will be able to practice social distancing, masks are not required. We do recommend that you bring yours so you have the ability to wear one if needed.

We hope to see you there! If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Rob via email at rob@cfrw.us. We hope to see you out there!
Please register beforehand here: https://cfrw.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=7303&

February First Saturday Seminar
2022-02-05 09:00 - 11:00 | Online, NC, United States
Speaker: Dawn York, Senior Coastal Planner with Moffatt & Nichol and Cape Fear River Partnership Coordinator
Topic: Update of Lock & Dam #1 Rock Arch Rapid Modification
Zoom Link to Register – https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMocO6rrz8vGdZ0dkEDPIAderYqRZTpJbFj

December/January Book Club
2022-01-22 10:30 - 12:30 | Pomegranate Books, 4418 Park Ave, Wilmington, NC, 28403, United States
The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water by Charles Fishman

“The Big Thirst brilliantly explores our strange and complex relationship to water. We delight in watching waves roll in from the ocean; we take great comfort from sliding into a hot bath; and we will pay a thousand times the price of tap water to drink our preferred brand of the bottled version. We love water—but at the moment, we don’t appreciate it or respect it. Just as we’ve begun to reimagine our relationship to food, a change that is driving the growth of the organic and local food movements, we must also rethink how we approach and use water. The good news is that we can. As Fishman shows, a host of advances are under way, from the simplicity of harvesting rainwater to the brilliant innovations devised by companies such as IBM, GE, and Royal Caribbean that are making impressive breakthroughs in water productivity. Knowing what to do is not the problem. Ultimately, the hardest part is changing our water consciousness.

As Charles Fishman writes, ‘Many civilizations have been crippled or destroyed by an inability to understand water or manage it. We have a huge advantage over the generations of people who have come before us, because we can understand water and we can use it smartly.’ The Big Thirst will forever change the way we think about water, about our essential relationship to it, and about the creativity we can bring to ensuring that we’ll always have plenty of it.”

Our next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 10:30AM outside at Pomegranate Books (Weather Permitting). Due to COVID-19 social gathering restrictions, chairs will need to be spaced at least 6ft apart.

CFRW Book Club members receive a 15% discount at Pomegranate Books (910) 452-1107.

December 1st Saturday Seminar
2021-12-04 09:00 - 10:00 | Online, NC, United States
December 1st Saturday Seminar: Team Effort to Clean Up Greenfield Lake!

Our December 1st Saturday Seminar will feature 5 speakers who will present on the Jumping Run Branch nutrient reduction project on Greenfield Lake!

Our speakers will share highlights on the project including an introduction to the issue, a summary of the work accomplished thus far, a look to the future, and very importantly, how regular citizens can get involved in reducing stormwater pollution!!

Please register for Zoom beforehand: https://us02web.zoom.us/…/tZIpdu6rrTwoH9wlZDbO0OA4TqOem…

SPEAKER BIOS:

– Dr. Mike Mallin
Dr. Michael Mallin is an aquatic ecologist with an M.S. in limnology from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. in marine and estuarine biology from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and is currently Research Professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Center for Marine Science. His research interests include analyzing the impacts of land use practices on water quality, the study of nutrient loading on estuaries, rivers and streams, impacts of green development practices and BMPs on pollution mitigation, the environmental effects of catastrophic weather events, impacts of human and animal waste pollution on watersheds, and water quality management issues. He has authored or coauthored over 100 peer-reviewed papers and 135 book chapters, and technical reports on the ecology and pollution of freshwater, estuarine, and coastal marine systems. Dr. Mallin was a 2001 Aldo Leopold Environmental Leadership Fellow, and he is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2007). He served as President of the Southeastern Estuarine Research Society from 2004-2006 President of the North Carolina Lake Management Society from 2018-2019.

– Amber Ellis
Amber hails from the NC mountains, but has made a new home on the coast since 2015. She recently earned her M.S. from the Biological and Agricultural Engineering department of NC State University, working with Bill Hunt and the Stormwater Engineering Research Group. She now works as an Extension Associate with that research group managing projects in the southeastern portion of the state.

– Dr. Larry Cahoon
Dr. Larry Cahoon is Professor of Biology and Marine Biology at UNC Wilmington and teaches courses in Biological Oceanography, Limnology, and Coastal Ocean Science and Policy (the latter w/Dr. Mike Mallin). His research interests include a broad range of water quality issues in addition to basic research in coastal ocean, estuarine and freshwater ecosystems. He has won UNCW’s Faculty Scholarship, Graduate Mentor, Distinguished Teaching Professorship, and Senior Distinguished Scholarly Engagement and Public Service awards, in addition to the NC League of Conservation Voters’ Catalyst Award for his work with the GenX issue. He is currently in his 40th year of service at UNCW.

– Dana Sargent
Dana earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from San Diego State University, and a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences & Policy from The Johns Hopkins University. She worked in communications for a large nonprofit out of D.C. for 13 years and moved to Wilmington in 2013 with the intention of transforming her career to align with her passion for the environment. She began volunteering throughout the community and writing freelance and was soon invited to chair the CFRW advocacy committee, before being elected to the Board of Directors. Cape Fear River Watch then hired her to manage an outreach campaign on water quality issues including GenX and industrial agriculture. She is honored to have been hired in January 2019 to serve as the Executive Director at this small organization that does huge things. She loves music and her two magnificent daughters.

Giving Tuesday 2021
2021-11-30 00:00 - 23:30 | Online, NC, United States
Join Cape Fear River Watch in celebrating Giving Tuesday! Our staff, board, interns, and volunteers have been hard at work all year long protecting our river, and we count on YOUR support to continue our efforts for years to come.
This year your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $5000 thanks to a generous donation from the Orton Foundation! Show your support here: https://cfrw.app.neoncrm.com/donation.jsp?campaign=82&

Oct/Nov Book Club
2021-11-20 10:30 - 11:30 | Pomegranate Books, 4418 Park Ave, Wilmington, NC, 28403, United States
Northland: A 4,000-Mile Journey Along America’s Forgotten Border by Porter Fox

“America’s northern border is the world’s longest international boundary, yet it remains obscure even to Americans. The northern border was America’s primary border for centuries―much of the early history of the United States took place there―and to the tens of millions who live and work near the line, the region even has its own name: the northland.

Travel writer Porter Fox spent three years exploring 4,000 miles of the border between Maine and Washington, traveling by canoe, freighter, car, and foot. In Northland, he blends a deeply reported and beautifully written story of the region’s history with a riveting account of his travels. Setting out from the easternmost point in the mainland United States, Fox follows explorer Samuel de Champlain’s adventures across the Northeast; recounts the rise and fall of the timber, iron, and rail industries; crosses the Great Lakes on a freighter; tracks America’s fur traders through the Boundary Waters; and traces the forty-ninth parallel from Minnesota to the Pacific Ocean. Fox, who grew up the son of a boat-builder in Maine’s northland, packs his narrative with colorful characters (Captain Meriwether Lewis, railroad tycoon James J. Hill, Chief Red Cloud of the Lakota Sioux) and extraordinary landscapes (Glacier National Park, the Northwest Angle, Washington’s North Cascades). He weaves in his encounters with residents, border guards, Indian activists, and militia leaders to give a dynamic portrait of the northland today, wracked by climate change, water wars, oil booms, and border security.”

Our next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, November 20, 2021…10:30AM outside at Pomegranate Books (Weather Permitting). Due to COVID-19 social gathering restrictions, chairs will need to be spaced at least 6ft apart.

CFRW Book Club members receive a 15% discount at Pomegranate Books (910) 452-1107.

2021 Annual Membership Meeting
2021-11-14 16:00 - 18:00 | Online, NC, United States
Please feel welcome to attend our annual membership meeting! All River Watch members or people interested in joining are welcome. We will provide a year in review, and then CFRW members will vote on the 2022 Board of Directors.

Please register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpc-qprD4iEt15E6KmPGi6WUxg9CoYYU5i
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
