Burnt Mill Creek Restoration

Cape Fear River Watch was awarded a three-year  Environmental Enhancement Grant  from the state’s office of the attorney general to help improve water quality, reduce litter and engage the community through volunteering, education signage, and recreation opportunities at Burnt Mill Creek!

1. Improve water quality through green infrastructure solutions in the form of tree plantings.

2. Reduce litter through the installation of three types of trash-capturing devices including LittaTraps, CFRW designed Aquatic Trash Capturing Devices (Garbage Gobblers), and a Trash Trout Jr.

3. Increase public awareness and engage community members and students through educational programming. As well as updating interpretive signage in Wallace Park.

4. Increase usability of the greenspace for local residents including potential enhancement to the ecological health of the creek which may impact the health of consumption fishermen and women in the area.

As part of our initiative to provide more green infrastructure along Burnt Mill Creek, we host tree planting events. Local tree nurseries like Pender Pines Garden Center provide us with native species to do these plantings. An increase in the number of trees and tree species will provide the area with more biodiversity, increase shade cover (reducing the likelihood of invasive species, i.e. water hyacinth), and stabilize the creek bank with the newly planted trees root systems, reducing effects of erosion.

Over 115 volunteers helped plant 182 trees over three planting events. The native species planted included Bald Cypress, Black Gum, Live Oak, River Birch, Swamp White Oak, Sweetbay Magnolia and Sweet Gum.

AmeriCorps members are crucial in successful tree planting. In coordination with Cape Fear River Watch Outreach and Engagement Manager, AmeriCorps members have successfully gathered volunteer support for planting and the weekly watering required for these trees.

Litta Traps

Litta Traps utilize nets to intercept litter before it has a chance to make it into the storm drain system and into BMC. Litta Traps are great at intercepting small items of litter.  The Litta Traps are able to intercept the smaller items that the Trash Trout Jr’s & Garbage Gobblers are unable to stop as they flow into BMC. 

Our Litta Trap data has found an overwhelming percentage of plastic items.

Trash Trout Jr's/ Garbage Gobblers

These devices are aquatic trash-capturing devices that float on the water and utilize booms to funnel macro litter into a galvanized steel cage that makes it extremely easy to remove litter. These devices are proven to be successful and will help us to greatly reduce the amounts of large floatable items of litter that find their way into BMC. This will increase the quality of recreation that community members will have while utilizing the creek, reduce microplastic levels, and reduce bacteria levels. Through previous cleanups and trash transects we determined locations that are in dire need of these devices.

Our Garbage Gobbler data has found an overwhelming percentage of plastic items.

We plan to install interpretative signage along Burnt Mill Creek in three locations: Wallace Park, Mary Bridgers Park, and Archie Blue Community Park.

The Wallace Park sign will be at a kiosk that was previously built by an Eagle Scout but has not been maintained and is in disarray. The kiosk will be repaired and maintained by CFRW. The signs, collectively, will focus on local flora and fauna (fish, birds, tree species, etc.), water quality, environmental stewardship, and safe fish consumption.

Additionally, we offer Eco Tours, guided nature walks, for free to the public along Bunrt Mill Creek. These one-hour nature walks cover ecological information about the Burnt Mill Creek watershed and the Cape Fear River basin; they also include information about the restoration project, water quality, and ways to get involved with Cape Fear River Watch. A total of four to six walks are offered each year, with additional walks available for groups by request.

We have partnered with Young Scientist Academy (YSA) on educational programs and tree plantings!

Kristen Rhodes, former AmeriCorps service member, helped develop educational signage for this project.

Hannah Nystrom, former AmeriCorps service member (now the CFRW Outreach & Engagement Manager), has been heavily involved with tree planting, tree maintenance, volunteer coordination, Eco Tours, passive litter device install and maintenance, website updates, and assisting with all Burnt Mill Creek project needs!

Savannah Lytle, current AmeriCorps service member, has been involved in tree planting, tree maintenance, Eco Tours, passive litter device install and maintenance, website updates, and assisting with all other Burnt Mill Creek project needs!

Take a look at our current project map. Zoom in to see our tree planting locations, Aquatic Trash Capturing Devices, Litta Traps, & Trash Trout jr. locations, and the route and stops of our Eco Tour! Zoom out to see Wilmington Watersheds and River Basins of North Carolina.