WHAT WE DO:
Research and citizen education efforts have been jointly funded by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Chatham County, the N.C. Conservation Trust and the N.C. Division of Water Quality 319 Grant Program. Research efforts seek to locate and compile the best available information concerning the environmental, natural and cultural features of the Rocky River. Citizen education efforts use this information to build citizen support for improved local, state and federal water quality, sedimentation control, land use planning and natural area preservation programs. Citizen education emphasizes the need to protect the entire Rocky River including especially three nationally significant aquatic habitats and eight natural heritage areas - all of which have been identified by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. Education efforts include presentations before community and student groups and elected officials.
To learn more about the Tick Creek 319 grant watershed restoration project, please go to:www.ncsu.edu/weco. Then select Rocky River from the list of "Current Projects."
Water quality monitoring Water quality monitoring research funded entirely or in part by the Rocky River Heritage Foundation has utilized funds provided by Chatham County, the Triangle Land Conservancy, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and the N.C. Division of Water Quality 319 Grant Program. Monitoring projects concluded to date include two activities. The first has involved sampling for "chlorophyll a", nitrites, nitrates, phosphorus and sediment at three locations in the lower Rocky River. This monitoring was undertaken by the N.C. State University Water Quality Group. The second activity has included population studies of the Cape Fear shiner, pea clams, cray fish and mussels at twenty-two sites throughout the Rocky River watershed. This study was undertaken by Alderman Environmental Services, Inc. A copy of research findings are available --“Rocky River Aquatic Taxa Survey”.
Two other monitoring projects are ongoing. The first involves a three year photographic documentary of algae and other aquatic plant growth throughout the full length of the Rocky River. This study is being undertaken in cooperation with the N.C. Division of Water Quality with the documentary itself being photographed by Mr. Cheyney Hales. The second ongoing research effort involves the N.C., State University Department of Marine Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences three-year $328,670 nutrient study of the Rocky River. The study is being conducted by Mr. Jim Rudder, as part of his PhD studies. Dr. John Fountain, Department Head and Mr. Rudder’s major professor is supervising the research project. This research project is designed to (1) identify and quantify the sources of nutrients and sediments that now contaminate the Rocky River watershed, (2) develop a model of nutrient and sediment transport, (3) quantify probable effects of land development on nutrient and sediment transport, and (4) evaluate both current and alternative best management practices in terms of their impacts on nutrient and sediment loadings.
To understand this nationally significant river, please view our Powerpoint presentation - Discover, Protect & Enjoy the Rocky River (3,876 KB).