Water Quality and Biological Investigation of the Lower Cape Fear River Basin, 1993 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Water quality of the Lower Cape Fear river below Lock and Dam No. 1 (about 60 km upstream of the City of Wilmington) has long been considered marginal because of the large number of industrial and municipal wastewater discharges. However, few detailed water quality and biological investigations had been conducted in this portion of the river. It is difficult to study because of tidal effects, channel characteristics (relatively narrow, deep channel), and the potential for high river flows.

In response to proposed NPDES permit limits, which were extremely difficult if not unachievable with proven technology in the pulp and paper industry, Federal Paper Board Company, Inc. initiated a variety of water quality modeling and biological investigations of the river.

Biological investigations of the river including habitat characteristics, benthic macroinvertebrates and fisheries indicated that the aquatic life uses of the river were not impaired as a result of wastewater discharges. Habitat characteristics of the Cape Fear River related to basin hydrology and historical dredging were determined to be primary factors affecting variability in biological characteristics in the river.

This paper summarizes the water quality and biological findings for the lower Cape Fear River and discusses how this information was used in negotiations with the North Carolina regulatory agency over NPDES permit requirements.