New River (eastern North Carolina)

History

Environmental decline

In 1940, the city government of Jacksonville, North Carolina built a sewage treatment plant to serve its 873 residents. The plant directly discharged its treated water into the New River. Jacksonville rapidly expanded during World War II and thereafter due to the growth of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, putting strain on the municipal wastewater infrastructure. The treatment plant filtered out pathogens but was unable to remove ammonias, phosphates, and nitrates from the water. The additional nutrients dumped into the river led to algal blooms, reduced oxygen levels, and fish kills. Declining water quality led the New River to be closed to the public in the early 1980s. In 1995, a hog lagoon leaked 25 million gallons of waste into the river.

Restoration efforts

Following the 1995 hog lagoon spill, local officials decided to try to rehabilitate the New River. Jacksonville's government replaced its sewage plant and consulted with scientists from North Carolina State University on ways to remediate the river's water quality. As a result, the city launched an oyster reef restoration project with the hopes that the added oysters would filter out pollutants in the water and attract other wildlife, such as fish. After some improvements in water quality, the river was reopened for recreational activities and commercial fishing operations in 2001.

References

References

1. [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8829488_ITM Army Corps of Engineers bids dredging for North Carolina's New River Inlet.] ''Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.'' 7 August 2004.{{subscription required
2. Wall, Julia. (March 14, 2023). "An Oyster Highway Is the New River’s Future". The Assembly.