Cape Fear River Watch

April Third Saturday Paddle - Town Creek
2022-04-16 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

November 2nd Saturday Cleanup
2021-11-13 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 November 13th! The cleanup will take place in the Smith Creek Watershed at the intersection of Princess Place Dr. and Evans St 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!

November 1st Saturday Seminar
2021-11-06 08:30 - 10:30 | NC
Presented by Brayton Willis, Chairman of the North Carolina Gullah Geechee Greenway/Blueway Heritage Trail Project for the Brunswick County Branch of the NAACP.

Stretching nearly 500 miles along the coast of Florida to North Carolina, the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor footprint was established in 2006 by Congress as a National Historic Area so that members of the public would be encouraged to explore its culturally historic sites and celebrate the story of the Gullah Geechee people.

This corridor allows local communities to preserve, protect and celebrate the Gullah Geechee heritage in a wide variety of ways. The presentation will highlight the efforts of the Brunswick County NAACP to establish a North Carolina Gullah Geechee Greenway/Blueway Heritage Trail along the west side of the Cape Fear River. Beginning in February 2020, this effort has been gaining support from local governments, private foundations, and local citizens. The new greenway/ blueway footprint is roughly 30 miles long and reaches from Navassa to Southport.

Brayton strongly believes that preservation, protection and celebration our historical, cultural, and natural resources are foundational to our community’s “sense of place”.

This seminar will be hosted on Zoom & FB Live. Please register beforehand for Zoom here.

Aug/Sept Book Club
2021-09-25 10:30 - 12:00 | Pomegranate Books, 4418 Park Ave, Wilmington, NC, 28403, United States
Join us at 10:30am on Saturday, September 25, to discuss our August/September pick at Pomegranate Books!
Our August/September 2021 book is Moving To Higher Ground: Rising Sea Level and the Path Forward written by John Englander, a renowned oceanographer and expert on climate change and sea level rise. Climate change is a controversial topic among those who doubt it and those who refuse to deny it. Moving To Higher Ground discusses the facts about the rising sea level and how excess heat in our oceans contributes to the ongoing problem that is affecting coastal communities around the globe. Copies will be available to CFRW Book Club Members for 15% OFF at Pomegranate Books!
Our next meeting is weather permitting. Due to COVID-19 social gathering restrictions, we will be meeting outside, and chairs will need to be spaced at least 6ft apart.

September Third Saturday Paddle: Rice Creek
2021-09-18 08:00 - 14:00 | NC
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.
This paddle is BYOB (Bring Your Own Boat!).
Paddlers can meet at the Cape Fear River Watch headquarters 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 beforehand here: https://cfrw.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=6582&

International Coastal Cleanup
2021-09-11 09:00 - 11:00 | Greenfield Lake Boathouse, 302 Willard St., Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Save the date for this year’s International Coastal Cleanup, a project of the Ocean Conservancy that engages people to remove trash from the world’s beaches and waterways. Cape Fear River Watch and Keep New Hanover Beautiful are teaming up with other local nonprofits and businesses to host cleanup sites all throughout New Hanover County. Partners include our local chapter of Surfrider, the Wilmington Yoga Center, and more!

Cape Fear River Watch will be based out of the Greenfield Lake Boathouse, and volunteers will be able to clean up either on land or by boat. As always, we’ll supply all the supplies you need except water and sunscreen! Check out our FB event for updated information.

Please register beforehand.

August 2nd Saturday Cleanup
2021-08-14 09:00 - 11:00 | Railroad Tracks 3rd-17th, 811 Martin St, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
After a month off, it’s time to get back at it! CFRW will be partnering with Keep New Hanover Beautiful, hosting our monthly second Saturday cleanup on August 14th 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.

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.

The 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!

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!

Please register in advance!

August First Saturday Seminar
2021-08-07 09:00 - 11:00 | Online, NC, United States
Join us for our final ZOOM First Saturday Seminar featuring Dr. Peter Schumann for his talk “Anglers’ Willingness to Pay for Recreational Catch Improvements in the Cape Fear River”.
This seminar will take place on August 7th from 9am to 11am. Dr. Peter Schumann is a Professor of Economics at UNCW and earned his PhD in economics from NC State with field concentrations in environmental economics and statistics. His primary area of research is the non-market valuation of environmental goods and services, largely focused on coastal and marine resources and tourism in NC and the Caribbean. Dr. Schumann’s work includes consultancies with various national and international organizations and he has authored/coauthored more than 60 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and technical reports.
Register beforehand here!

Riverfront Amphitheater Cleanup
2021-08-01 08:45 - 11:00 | Riverfront Park, 10 Cowan St, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Cape Fear River Watch and Island Wildlife – Cape Fear Region are excited to partner together for this cleanup at the Riverfront Park and surrounding downtown area on Sunday! Thanks to this partnership, the cleanup will also be a Trees4Trash event. That means that as a volunteer, your impact is doubled: for every 25 pounds of trash that you pick up, Trees4Trash will plant a tree to promote healthy wildlife habitat, mitigate climate change, and buffer storm water runoff and sediment load in waterways.

The cleanup will also be supported by Keep New Hanover Beautiful and Plastic Ocean Project! Thank you!

For the cleanup, here’s what you need to know:

Meeting time: 8:45am. Please sign in with CFRW and with Island Wildlife!
Start time: 9am
Duration: We’re anticipating a maximum of two hours
Address: 10 Cowan St.
Parking: Street parking
Look for: CFRW & Island Wildlife tent & sign-in table, cleanup signs & feather flag. We’ll be staging the cleanup from the amphitheater itself.
What we’re cleaning up: Amphitheater, surrounding city blocks, storm drains, river walk, overflowing trash cans, and potentially in the marsh grasses under the boardwalk (if safe and feasible). We will have some maps available of different areas of downtown to hit.
We provide: Pickers, gloves, safety vests, bags, and water (please bring a reusable bottle). We hope to have enough supplies for everyone present, but if you have any cleanup supplies of your own, please bring them!
Please bring: Sunscreen, hat, & water bottle

If you have any questions feel free to email Rob at rob@cfrw.us
Please register beforehand using this form: https://cfrw.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=6271&

June/July Book Club
2021-07-24 10:30 - 11:30 | Pomegranate Books, 4418 Park Ave, Wilmington, NC, 28403, United States
Join us for our June/July CFRW Book Club Meeting! This month we will be reading Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water by Marc Reisner. This book, which tells the story of a major Western drought, water rights, and a rivalry between the Bureau of Reclamation and the US Army Corps of Engineers, was recommended by one of our book club members! Cadillac Desert is considered advocacy journalism and was a finalist for a National Book Critic’s Circle Award that inspired an award-winning documentary.

Pomegranate Books will have copies of Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water by Marc Reisner available for purchase, and CFRW Book Club members receive a 15% discount. This next meeting will be in-person and socially distanced with chairs 6ft apart outside of Pomegranate Books! (Please bring your own outdoor chair.) Book club was created and is facilitated by CFRW Board Member Chantay Allen.

Cargo District Cleanup
2021-07-11 17:00 - 18:00 | Crafted Outpost, 615 S 16th St Unit 120, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Cape Fear River Watch is excited to be partnering with Crafted Outpost to host a cleanup after their Consciously Curated Crafted Market. The market will take place from 12pm-4pm. The cleanup is scheduled to take place afterwards from 5pm-6pm. We will focus the cleanup on Castle Street. To arrive, head towards the intersection of Queen Street and 17th Street. Parking will be available in the gravel lot next to Crafted Outpost. Additional parking can be found in streetside spots along either Queen Street or Castle Street. Volunteers will be walking westbound on either side of Castle Street. We will provide gloves, bags, pickers, and safety vests. Please remember to dress appropriately and bring some water. We hope to see you there!
Please register beforehand using this form, thanks!

June 2nd Saturday Cleanup - Great American Cleanup with KNHB
2021-06-12 09:00 - 11:00 | Kerr Ave Wetland, 4502 Fountain Dr, Wilmington
We’re changing it up a little bit for our cleanup coming up on Saturday, June 12th from 9-11am. While we always partner with Keep New Hanover Beautiful, next month’s partnership will look a little different, as June 12th is KNHB’s Great American Cleanup. As part of the Great American Cleanup, we have the opportunity for volunteers to register to receive a free cleanup kit, including a trash picker, a safety vest, a pair of gloves, a couple of trash bags and a scale. CFRW will be cleaning up the Kerr Ave Wetland located at 4502 Fountain Dr. You can read more about the cleanup and register for it here!
Feel welcome to join us following the cleanup at Wrightsville Beach Brewery to enjoy a celebratory beer! We are WBB’s 11% partner for the month of June, so 11% of proceeds from their beer of the month will be donated to CFRW!

Cape Fear River Watch Summer Celebration
2021-06-05 16:00 - 21:00 | Waterline Brewing Co, 721 Surry St, Wilmington, 28401, United States
Join us for a community gathering to celebrate Summer on Saturday, June 5th from 4-9pm at Waterline Brewing Co! We’re looking to have a fun gathering with local vendors, food trucks, community organizations, a raffle and more! Stay tuned for more information on vendors and raffle prizes. All are welcome! We hope to see you there!

Music: The Smoky Dunes
Food: Pepe’s Tacos
Vendors: Amalia Rose Ceramics, Plants for Progress, Bones Soap Co., MaggieB’s Home-Baked Treats & more!
Community: Northside Food Co-op, Plastic Ocean Project, Keep New Hanover Beautiful, New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District & more!
Raffle:Dinner for two at Chef Dean Neff’s new restaurant Seabird, an RO filtration system & installation from Whole Water Solutions, a paddling trip for six through the Three Sisters Swamp with Cape Fear River Adventures, & more!
