Coastwatch 



Managing Editor 

 Katie Mosher 



Senior Editors 

 Kathleen Angione 

 Ann Green 



Contributing Editors 

 Jamie Harris 

 E-Ching Lee 



Designer 

 Linda Noble 



Circulation Manager 

 Sandra Harris 



The North Carolina Sea Grant College Program 



is a federal/state program that promotes 

 stewardship of our coastal and marine resources 



through research, extension and education. 

 It joined the National Sea Grant College Network 

 in 1970 as an institutional program. Six years later, 



it was designated a Sea Grant College. 

 Today, North Carolina Sea Grant supports research 

 projects, a 15-member extension program and a 

 communications staff. Ron Hodson is director. 

 The program is funded by the U.S. Department 

 of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Administration and the state through the 

 University of North Carolina. 

 Coastwatch (ISSN 1068-784X) 

 is published six times a year by the 

 North Carolina Sea Grant College Program. 

 North Carolina State University, Box 8605, 

 Raleigh. North Carolina 27695-8605. 

 Telephone: 919/515-2454. Fax: 919/5 15-7095. 

 Subscriptions are $ 1 5. 

 E-mail: katie_mosher@ncsu.edu 

 World Wide Web address: 

 http:llmvw.Kseagrant.org 

 Periodical Postage paid at Raleigh, N.C. 



POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 



Coastwatch, North Carolina Sea Grant, 

 North Carolina State University. Box 8605, 

 Raleigh, NC 27695-8605. 



COASTAL 



TIDINGS 



Cape Fear River Dams Under Study 



The 



I he removal 

 of three dams along 

 the Cape Fear River 

 no longer needed 

 for navigation could 

 improve recreational and 

 commercial fisheries for 

 striped bass, American 

 shad and hickory shad. 

 The move also could 

 help restoration efforts 

 for river herring, Atlantic 

 sturgeon and shortnose 

 sturgeon, say fisheries 

 experts. 



But removal of the dams would pose 

 another concern. Wilmington, Fayetteville and 

 other local areas depend on the dams for their 

 water supply. The state and federal fishery 

 agencies and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

 say they are committed to working with users to 

 find water supply alternatives should any of the 

 lock-and-dam systems be dismantled. 



'The water supply will not be 

 compromised," says Frank Yelverton, a Corps 

 biologist in Wilmington, who is working with 

 local officials on the issue. 



The Corps is studying options for the Cape 

 Fear River dams, as part of the Wilmington 

 Harbor Deepening Project. 



Experts say demolishing the dams 

 would restore spawning and nursery habitat 

 for migratory fish and likely increase their 

 populations. 



Coastal marine fisheries also would benefit 

 because juvenile shad and herring spawned in 



ABOVE: Lock-and-Dam #3 is on the Cape Fear River. 



fresh waters migrate downstream to the ocean 

 and provide an important prey base for red 

 drum, flounder, bluefish and seatrout. 



The benefits of restoring healthy fish 

 populations in the state's rivers and streams 

 "extend to our economy, to our culture and to 

 our dedication to conserving our nch heritage 

 of natural resources," says Bob Curry, chief 

 of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's 

 Division of Inland Fisheries. 



The 1 998 removal of Quaker Neck Dam 

 in the Neuse River — funded in part by an 

 N.C. Fishery Resource Grant (FRG) — allowed 

 striped bass and American shad to reach 

 their historic spawning habitats. FRG, which 

 is administered by North Carolina Sea Grant, 

 also funded two environmental studies before 

 and after the reopening of the river. 



For more information on the harbor 

 project, visit the Web: www. saw. usace. army, 

 mil/wilmington-harbor/grr/grr.htm. — E.L. 



illran 



Sea Grant 



North Carolina 



Cover photo ofKatrina damage by Spencer 

 Rogers. Table of Contents photo of storm- 

 tossed fishing boats by Paula Ouder. 



Printed on recycled paper. © 



In the Next Issue of Coastwatch 



Ann Green takes readers on a tour of some residents' favorite spots in Salter Path. 

 She also highlights a North Carolina Sea Grant project on "best practices for 

 coastal communities with a large influx of immigrants." And Erin Seiling visits 

 the tiny community of Belvidere, which has deep Quaker roots. 



2 Coastwatch I Autumn 2006 I www.ncseagrant.org 



