North Carolina Sustainable Rivers Program
In 2002, The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers launched a collaborative effort to find more sustainable ways to manage river infrastructure to maximize benefits for people and nature. As of 2021, the Sustainable Rivers Program study area includes 40 rivers, 89 reservoirs, and 10,953 downstream river miles. The USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center and USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center have joined as partners for studying two of the rivers in North Carolina, the Roanoke River and the Cape Fear River.
Background: Both the Roanoke and Cape Fear River Basins are designated as “Learning Watersheds” for enhanced research and study. The Roanoke River has been in the Sustainable Rivers Program since 2002. In 2016, a new dam release strategy was implemented for the Roanoke River and the USGS, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other partners are studying effects downstream. The Cape Fear River was included in the Sustainable Rivers Program in 2016 and planning is underway for implementing alternative dam release strategies. Structured Decision Making is being used to foster innovative dam release strategies that may help to achieve multiple objectives for downstream ecosystems and water users. Learn more about the Sustainable Rivers Program.
Roanoke River: The Roanoke River's floodplain contains the largest intact and least-disturbed bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem remaining in the mid-Atlantic region. Within the last half-century, the river has been significantly shaped by three dams that sit near the Virginia-North Carolina border: John H. Kerr Dam, Gaston Dam and Roanoke Rapids Dam. In the spring of 2016, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers initiated a new water control plan for Kerr Lake, which more closely mimics natural river flows. Researchers from the USGS, The Nature Conservancy, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are investigating streambank erosion downstream of the dams to determine the effect of the new dam release strategy on bank stability. Remotely sensed elevation data (lidar) are being used to identify potential erosion hotspots, and Structure from Motion surveys will be used to assess sediment fluxes in select reaches of the river. Learn more about the Roanoke River.
The USGS operates and maintains multiple streamgages and water quality monitoring stations along the Roanoke River (from the Kerr Lake reservoir to mouth of river):
- USGS 02079490 JOHN H. KERR RESERVOIR AT DAM NEAR BOYDTON, VA
- USGS 02079500 ROANOKE RIVER AT BUGGS ISLAND, VA
- USGS 02080500 ROANOKE RIVER AT ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC
- USGS 0208062765 ROANOKE RIVER AT HALIFAX, NC
- USGS 02081000 ROANOKE RIVER NEAR SCOTLAND NECK, NC
- USGS 02081022 ROANOKE RIVER NEAR OAK CITY, NC
- USGS 02081028 ROANOKE RIVER AT HAMILTON, NC
- USGS 02081054 ROANOKE RIVER AT WILLIAMSTON, NC
- USGS 02081094 ROANOKE RIVER AT JAMESVILLE, NC
- USGS 0208114150 ROANOKE RIVER AT NC 45 NR WESTOVER, NC
Cape Fear River: The Cape Fear River Basin is becoming increasingly susceptible to extreme weather. Downstream communities and ecosystems experience frequent flooding, while drought conditions threaten water supply and increase the likelihood of algal blooms. Management of water resources under these highly variable and unpredictable conditions can be especially challenging. A diverse stakeholder group worked together to develop environmental flow recommendations for the Cape Fear River, some of which will be tested by releasing pulses from the Jordan Lake reservoir. The effects of these pulses on floodplains, fish, and water quality will be investigated. Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) will be used to conduct synoptic surveys of various reaches in the Cape Fear River to study how water quality conditions vary across the channel’s width and depth before, during, and after pulses are released.
The USGS operates and maintains multiple streamgages and water-quality monitoring stations along the Cape Fear River (from the Jordan Lake reservoir to Lock #1):
- USGS 02098197 B. EVERETT JORDAN LAKE AT DAM NR MONCURE, NC
- USGS 02098206 HAW RIVER NEAR MONCURE, NC
- USGS 02102500 CAPE FEAR RIVER AT LILLINGTON, NC
- USGS 02104000 CAPE FEAR RIVER AT FAYETTEVILLE, NC
- USGS 02105500 CAPE FEAR R AT WILM O HUSKE LOCK NR TARHEEL, NC
- USGS 02105769 CAPE FEAR R AT LOCK #1 NR KELLY, NC
Release Date: 9/17/2021
In 2002, The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers launched a collaborative effort to find more sustainable ways to manage river infrastructure to maximize benefits for people and nature. As of 2021, the Sustainable Rivers Program study area includes 40 rivers, 89 reservoirs, and 10,953 downstream river miles. The USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center and USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center have joined as partners for studying two of the rivers in North Carolina, the Roanoke River and the Cape Fear River.
Background: Both the Roanoke and Cape Fear River Basins are designated as “Learning Watersheds” for enhanced research and study. The Roanoke River has been in the Sustainable Rivers Program since 2002. In 2016, a new dam release strategy was implemented for the Roanoke River and the USGS, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other partners are studying effects downstream. The Cape Fear River was included in the Sustainable Rivers Program in 2016 and planning is underway for implementing alternative dam release strategies. Structured Decision Making is being used to foster innovative dam release strategies that may help to achieve multiple objectives for downstream ecosystems and water users. Learn more about the Sustainable Rivers Program.
Roanoke River: The Roanoke River's floodplain contains the largest intact and least-disturbed bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem remaining in the mid-Atlantic region. Within the last half-century, the river has been significantly shaped by three dams that sit near the Virginia-North Carolina border: John H. Kerr Dam, Gaston Dam and Roanoke Rapids Dam. In the spring of 2016, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers initiated a new water control plan for Kerr Lake, which more closely mimics natural river flows. Researchers from the USGS, The Nature Conservancy, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are investigating streambank erosion downstream of the dams to determine the effect of the new dam release strategy on bank stability. Remotely sensed elevation data (lidar) are being used to identify potential erosion hotspots, and Structure from Motion surveys will be used to assess sediment fluxes in select reaches of the river. Learn more about the Roanoke River.
The USGS operates and maintains multiple streamgages and water quality monitoring stations along the Roanoke River (from the Kerr Lake reservoir to mouth of river):
- USGS 02079490 JOHN H. KERR RESERVOIR AT DAM NEAR BOYDTON, VA
- USGS 02079500 ROANOKE RIVER AT BUGGS ISLAND, VA
- USGS 02080500 ROANOKE RIVER AT ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC
- USGS 0208062765 ROANOKE RIVER AT HALIFAX, NC
- USGS 02081000 ROANOKE RIVER NEAR SCOTLAND NECK, NC
- USGS 02081022 ROANOKE RIVER NEAR OAK CITY, NC
- USGS 02081028 ROANOKE RIVER AT HAMILTON, NC
- USGS 02081054 ROANOKE RIVER AT WILLIAMSTON, NC
- USGS 02081094 ROANOKE RIVER AT JAMESVILLE, NC
- USGS 0208114150 ROANOKE RIVER AT NC 45 NR WESTOVER, NC
Cape Fear River: The Cape Fear River Basin is becoming increasingly susceptible to extreme weather. Downstream communities and ecosystems experience frequent flooding, while drought conditions threaten water supply and increase the likelihood of algal blooms. Management of water resources under these highly variable and unpredictable conditions can be especially challenging. A diverse stakeholder group worked together to develop environmental flow recommendations for the Cape Fear River, some of which will be tested by releasing pulses from the Jordan Lake reservoir. The effects of these pulses on floodplains, fish, and water quality will be investigated. Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) will be used to conduct synoptic surveys of various reaches in the Cape Fear River to study how water quality conditions vary across the channel’s width and depth before, during, and after pulses are released.
The USGS operates and maintains multiple streamgages and water-quality monitoring stations along the Cape Fear River (from the Jordan Lake reservoir to Lock #1):
- USGS 02098197 B. EVERETT JORDAN LAKE AT DAM NR MONCURE, NC
- USGS 02098206 HAW RIVER NEAR MONCURE, NC
- USGS 02102500 CAPE FEAR RIVER AT LILLINGTON, NC
- USGS 02104000 CAPE FEAR RIVER AT FAYETTEVILLE, NC
- USGS 02105500 CAPE FEAR R AT WILM O HUSKE LOCK NR TARHEEL, NC
- USGS 02105769 CAPE FEAR R AT LOCK #1 NR KELLY, NC
Release Date: 9/17/2021