News from Cape Fear River Watch
December 12, 2008
Big Fish, Big Event, Big Thanks
Congratulations to everybody involved with last weekend's 1st Ever Annual Cape Fear River Watch Invitational Striper Tournament and Gala Kick-Off Banquet and Auction (1EACFRWISTAGKOB). It was a Very Big Success (VBS). Special thanks to all of the volunteers who worked so hard to make the event a VBS. Special congratulations go to the fishermen and captains who caught (and released) more than 70 Striped Bass on Saturday. More than 40 of those stripers were measured and tagged before releasing and will provide important data when/if they are caught again in the future. Pictures are available. Enjoy your moment of fame; planning for the 2009 Event (the 2EACFRWISTAGKOB) begins shortly.
Time To Get Dirty
Now that everybody has been well fed (thanks Hieronymus!) and entertained and educated and picked up some killer bargains at the auction, it's time to get back to the day to day work of keeping the Cape Fear River clean. We need volunteers to come out tomorrow (Saturday, December 13th) to help clean up a length of the river's Burnt Mill Creek tributary. As usual CFRW provides tools, bags, gloves, and bottled water. Volunteers should present themselves (attired in clothes that can get a little dirty) and a positive attitude. Meet at CFRW's Environmental Education Center (617 Surry St., Wilmington) at 9:00 to carpool/caravan to the dirty place. 3 or 4 hours later you'll be tired and grubby and filled with an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. If the River could talk, it would thank you.
Don't Forget About Titan, They Haven't Forgotten About You
Titan Cement has been quiet lately about their efforts to build a gigantic Cement Kiln and associated open pit limestone quarry on the banks of the Northeast Cape Fear River and pristine Island Creek. Despite the much hyped "years long regulatory process" this doesn't mean they've been inactive. Word on the grapevine is that they've been pushing the North Carolina Department of Air Quality to issue a draft air permit as soon as possible (before the EPA's new mercury regulations are issued in March.)
The good folks of Stoptitan.org are encouraging all concerned residents to write to NCDAQ to urge them to delay issuing any permit before adequate state and federal regulations are in effect. Contact names and addresses as well as a sample letter are available at the stoptitan website. So, as you're addressing your Christmas cards (or other generic holiday greetings), why not send a nice note to Keith Overcash at NCDAQ? I'm sure he'd like to hear from you.
Birding At Greenfield Lake
It's migratory waterfowl season again and the trees, water and skies at Greenfield Lake are brim full of birds. Now is the perfect time to take a birding cruise on the lake with CFRW Naturalist and Avian Biologist Joe Abbate. Tours are by reservation (minimum of 4 persons) and last 90 minutes aboard CFRW's silent and graceful electric launch (known variously as the Gator Belle, El Legardo, Dickson's Boat, or Big Green, depending on what entry people think won the naming contest.) Contact Joe to arrange a tour at 910-762-5606 or by e-mail at joe@cfrw.us. Bring your binoculars, cameras, bird guides and a notebook and be ready to add to your life list of bird species. $15/person
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