areas in Pender County. Although activities in navigable waters and 

 wetlands is now regulated by the Corps of Engineers, "high ground" 

 development could have a devastating affect on the quality of the water 

 and the remoteness aspect of the system. We rank the Northeast Cape 

 Fear near the top of Pender County natural areas, based on the condition 

 of its swamplands, the fact that this river is the highest volume 

 black-water stream in southeastern North Carolina, the potential 

 threat to it as industrial and residential development edge upstream 

 from Wilmington, and the presence of several threatened species. 



12. Significance Summary (See TABLE 2) 

 Legal Status, Use, and Management 



13. Ownership type by percent area: Private: 99%, Public: 1%, Unknown 0% 



14. Number of owners: Approximately 30 



15. Name(s) of owner(s) and/or custodian(s) (with addresses, phone numbers, 

 and other pertinent information) : 



Major landowners are Bruce B. Cameron, 2219 Blythe Rd. , Wilmington, NC 

 (763-1054), Corbett Industries, Inc., Wrightsboro (Wilmington, NC) 

 (763-4646), Southern Furniture of Conover, Inc., International Paper 



Company, Harry W. Williams, Williams Lumber Co., Burgaw, NC, H. H. 



Bate, Mrs. Nell H. Trask; public land is small section of Holly Shelter 



Game Lands which borders the east shore of the river. 



16. Name(s) of knowledgeable person (s) (with addresses, phone numbers, other 

 pertinent information) : None 



17. Attitude of owner or custodian toward preservation (contacted?) : 

 Not contacted 



18. Uses of natural area: Recreational boating, fishing, hunting 



19. Uses of surrounding land: Wildland: 25%; Agricultural land, 40%; 

 High- intensity forestry, 25%; Developed, 5% 



20. Preservation Status: Category 7, 100% 



21. Regulatory protections in force: Wetlands, natural hazard areas 



22. Threats: Piecemeal development along the river bluffs; no threats 

 to the overwhelming percentage of swamplands. 



23. Management and Preservation Recommendation: Tributary stream swamps 

 may be easier to manage than the main stem of the river. Island Creek 

 and Harrisons Creek are considered exceptional areas for preservation, 

 either by acquisition or landowner registry. Regulations in effect 

 for activities in wetlands is probably sufficient for adequate site 

 protection. 



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