A CHANGING CAPE FEAR RIVER ESTUARY: IMPACTS FROM RIVER DEEPENING AND CLIMATE CHANGE

The Cape Fear River Estuary extends for 25 miles (40 km) from Bald Head Island to Wilmington, NC. It has undergone changes over the last century plus with incremental river deepening from 12 to 42 feet (3.7 - 13.0 m). It is now being studied for an additional 5 feet (1.5 m) of deepening to accommodate larger draft ships. River deepening, in conjunction with rising sea levels and more frequent high-tide flooding, has led to many physical changes in the estuary including increasing salinity, larger tidal ranges, and increased storm surge. There are also numerous changes in the flora in the surrounding floodplain and fauna in the river. There have been increasing examples of conversion of freshwater plants to more brackish water forms and there are increasing numbers of ghost forests forming along the river and its tributaries. The Wilmington area, which is in a compound flood zone, has experienced an increasing number of flood events, particularly in the last two decades. River and floodplain changes over time are shown as well as projections for future flooding scenarios.