The Lumber River , sometimes referred to as the Lumbee River , is a 133-mile-long (214 km) river in south-central North Carolina in the flat Coastal Plain. European settlers first called the river Drowning Creek, which is still used as the name of its headwater. The waterway known as the Lumber River extends downstream from the Scotland County - Hoke County border to the North Carolina - South Carolina border. Soon after crossing into South Carolina, the Lumber River flows into the Little Pee Dee River , which flows into the Pee Dee River , or Great Pee Dee River. Finally, the combined waters flow into Winyah Bay and the Atlantic Ocean .
32-695: In 1989, the river was designated as a " Natural and Scenic River " by the North Carolina General Assembly. In addition, it is the only blackwater river in North Carolina to be designated as a National Wild and Scenic River by the Department of the Interior . In 2010, the Lumber River was voted one of North Carolina’s Ten Natural Wonders, the result of an on-line contest held by Land for Tomorrow,
64-424: A coalition dedicated to supporting the preservation of North Carolina’s land and water resources. Evidence from archeological excavations along the Lumber River has shown that successive cultures of indigenous Native Americans inhabited this area for thousands of years. A number of archaeological sites have been excavated on high ground along the river. While many have been disturbed by the agricultural practices of
96-562: A leader for "conservation of wildlife diversity in North Carolina". The Commission's most recent award, the Guy Bradley Award, "recognizes extraordinary individuals who have made an outstanding lifetime contribution to wildlife law enforcement, wildlife forensics or investigative techniques". Commission staff have also received awards. The highest received is the Governor 's Award of Excellence, given to employees for dedicated service beyond
128-410: Is a species endemic to the sandhills region that the Lumber River flows through. The Semotilus lumbee is also known as the sandhills chub. The cape fear chub is not the only unique organism that is found around the Lumber River. Other organism such as Megathymus yuccae , a giant yucca skipper and, Leuconotopicus borealis , the red-cockaded wood pecker are species that are endemic to habitats around
160-629: Is a state government agency created by the General Assembly in 1947 to conserve and sustain North Carolina 's fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use, and public input. The Commission is the regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of NC fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws. The agency issues licenses and permits for hunting, trapping, and fishing, as well as titles and registrations for boats 14 feet or longer and personal watercraft (jet skis) in
192-518: Is the NC Division of Parks & Recreation description of State Trails: The North Carolina Trails System Act was passed in 1973 to help provide for the state's outdoor recreation needs and to promote public access to natural and scenic areas. The act prescribed methods for establishing a statewide system of scenic trails, recreation trails, and connecting or side trails. The Trails System includes "park trails", which are designated and managed as units of
224-512: The North Carolina state legislature changed the name of the river to Lumber, most likely to symbolize the thriving lumber industry in the area, and its use of the river for transporting logs. They wanted a name more positive than Drowning Creek. In the late 18th and the 19th centuries, the lumbering and naval stores industries were critical to the region's economy. The Lumber River became a vital route for transporting 100-foot logs downriver to
256-670: The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) . Units of the system can only be established by an act of the General Assembly of North Carolina . The park system began in 1916 when the summit of Mount Mitchell became first state park in the Southeastern United States . According to the Division of Parks & Recreation, "the State Parks Act of 1987 lists six types of units included in
288-552: The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission . Nine primitive camping sites are located at the Princess Ann section of the park, between Orrum and Fair Bluff . These campsites are meant to be used by no more than 6 people at a time. Each camp site features, a picnic table and grill, lantern holder, trash can, and fire ring. There are several hiking trails and picnic areas at Princess Ann as well as
320-495: The Commission recognizes those throughout North Carolina who contributed significantly to wildlife and outdoor management in the state. The Lawrence G. Diedrick Small Game Award is given to an organization or person "whose actions significantly and positively impact North Carolina's small game populations". The Thomas L. Quay Wildlife Diversity Award, named for the late activist and professor of zoology at NC State University , goes to
352-607: The Lumbee River. 34°11′44″N 79°09′56″W / 34.1954414°N 79.1655961°W / 34.1954414; -79.1655961 List of North Carolina state parks#State Rivers The State of North Carolina has a group of protected areas known as the North Carolina State Park System , which is managed by the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation ( NCDPR ), an agency of
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#1732854802286384-652: The NC State Park System and transferred to other agencies for management. When the State Historic Site system was established in 1955, the system's first six components were historic properties transferred from the State Park System. One unit, Rendezvous Mountain , was transferred back to the park system, after 66 years in the state forest system. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
416-474: The NC State Parks System." These are State Parks , State Recreation Areas , State Natural Areas , State Lakes , State Trails , and State Rivers . All units of the system are owned and/or managed by the division, and the division leases some of the units to other agencies for operation. Most units of the park system are also components of State Nature and Historic Preserve . State Parks are
448-606: The State Parks System known as State Trails, and "designated trails", which are managed by other governmental agencies or corporations. State Rivers are components of the state's Natural and Scenic Rivers System, which is the state's equivalent to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System . Most of the state's National Wild and Scenic Rivers , are also State Rivers and vice versa . The NC Division of Parks & Recreation states that: The Natural and Scenic Rivers System
480-543: The State Trail System. State Trails may be either long-distance, hiking trails or paddle trails . State Trails may have land components for providing a trail corridor or for protecting significant features or resources along the trail. Most of these lands are leased to other land management agencies. All of the State Trails are joint projects with other government agencies and nonprofit organizations. The following
512-463: The State." This allowed the then-Department of Conservation and Development to assume management authority for seven Coastal Plain lakes that became units of the State Parks System known as State Lakes. Most of these are administratively included as part of an adjoining State Park, but one of the lakes (White Lake) has no public ownership on its shoreline. State Trails are one of the principal components of
544-433: The agency. The Commission has an operational budget of approximately $ 65 million and employs over 590 full-time men and women across the state, including wildlife and fisheries biologists and technicians, wildlife officers, conservation educators, and public information, customer service, information technology, and administrative professionals. According to the state's Department of Commerce, hunting and fishing ranked 12th on
576-582: The general public to protect rare, fragile ecosystems . A few have developed facilities for low intensity, passive recreation, as well as facilities for public interpretation and education of the natural area. The NC Division of Parks & Recreation states: The purpose of State Natural Areas is focused on preserving and protecting areas of scientific, aesthetic, or ecological value. Facilities are limited to those needed for interpretation, protection, and minimum maintenance. Generally, recreational and public use facilities such as camping, swimming, picnicking, and
608-530: The historic tribes who lived in the coastal and inland region prior to European encounter. Archeologists have identified 47 sites of potential importance, 20 of which are eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places . Early English surveyors named the river "Drowning Creek." In 1749, British colonial records identified the river as a branch of the Little Pee Dee River . In 1809,
640-576: The like are not provided in State Natural Areas. State Lakes are all large, naturally formed bodies of water in the state's Coastal Plain . Most of the lakes are Carolina Bays . The NC Division of Parks & Recreation describes its State Lakes as follows: Chapter 165 of the Laws of 1929 specified that "all lakes now belonging to the State having an area of 50 acres or more" should be "administered as provided for other recreational areas now owned by
672-582: The many municipal and county parks that are located on the Lumber River. Fourteen individual campsites are available at the Chalk Banks Access Area in Scotland County for family camping. Each site has a table, lantern holder, trash can and fire pit. Canoe-in campsites are also available. The Lumber River has many different types of organisms in and around it, including the Semotilus lumbee , which
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#1732854802286704-469: The most popular activities, including canoeing, boating, fishing, hunting, picnicking, camping, nature study, swimming, biking, jogging, crafts, and fossil and artifact hunting. The Lumber and some of its adjoining banks are part of the Lumber River State Park , which comprises 9,874 acres of land and 115 miles of waterway. The park’s recreational activities are currently at Princess Ann Access in
736-463: The natural resources are still important, and the sites are expected to contain scenic and attractive natural features. Development is planned and constructed to keep a "reasonable amount" of each area undisturbed and free from improvements and structures. State Natural Areas protect areas more sensitive to human activities than State Parks. Most of the State Natural Areas are undeveloped and have limited to no facilities, and some of them are closed to
768-900: The post- Columbian era, numerous artifacts and some fossils have been recovered. These include a dugout canoe made by indigenous people and estimated to be over 1,025 years old. This ancient canoe is on display at the Native American Resource Center at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke . Much of the archaeological work in the Lumber River region has been done in Robeson County . A total of 429 archaeological sites have been recorded in this area. The sites contain components from various archaeological periods: Paleo-Indian , Archaic Woodland, Mississippian and Historic (after European encounter). Iroquoian , Siouan , and Carolina Algonquian -speaking peoples were among
800-413: The principle unit of the state park system. The NC Division of Parks & Recreation describes its parks as follows: Generally, State Parks are expected to possess both significant natural resource values and significant recreational values. State Parks are expected to accommodate the development of facilities, but may vary in the extent of development depending upon what can be provided without damage to
832-500: The public. State Recreation Areas are more intensely developed units than State Parks, and they largely encompass lands less sensitive to human activities than State Parks. According to the NC Division of Parks & Recreation: State Recreation Areas are sites where the primary purpose is outdoor recreation, rather than preservation. More intensive development of facilities is provided than in State Parks. Protection and enjoyment of
864-435: The scenic or natural features. Facilities are planned and constructed to keep disturbance of natural resources to a minimum and to leave a "liberal portion" of each park undisturbed and free from improvements and structures, except for trails. Several of the State Parks are new and are still being planned and developed. A few of the older state parks were greatly expanded in size in the 2000s adding trails and bike paths open to
896-480: The seaport of Georgetown, South Carolina . Lumberton, North Carolina was important for the timber industry and associated production of turpentine . The visible remaining bridge abutments, tram bridges, and dock pilings are reminders of the critical importance of lumbering and naval stores industries to the area as a whole. In the 21st century, the Lumber River is a highly prized recreation corridor in North Carolina . Active outdoor recreation and festivals are among
928-465: The south and the Chalk Banks access to the north (near the town of Wagram). There are 24 boat launches along the Lumber River that serve as access points to Lumber River State Park . The entire length of the river is open to fishing . The common game fish are black crappie , largemouth bass , catfish and redbreast sunfish . All anglers must have a valid fishing license and follow the regulations of
960-580: The state's top industries in 2014. The agency operates three Wildlife Education Centers, one each in the mountain , Piedmont , and coastal plain regions of the state. From its headquarters in Raleigh , the Commission issues a wide variety of publications, including guides for outdoor enthusiasts, maps, conservation plans, and a monthly magazine entitled Wildlife in North Carolina . The Commission also operates an online store that sells books and memorabilia associated with wildlife and conservation. Every year,
992-460: The state. It employs law enforcement officers (commonly called game wardens) who enforce the rules and regulations associated with these activities. The agency also constructs public fishing areas (PFAs) and boating access areas (BAAs) that provide parking spaces for tow vehicles and trailers, and ramps and docks for launching boats into the water. The sale of hunting and fishing licenses, federal grants and other receipts provide financial support of
Lumber River - Misplaced Pages Continue
1024-509: Was created by the 1971 General Assembly to preserve and protect certain free flowing rivers, their water quality and their adjacent lands for the benefit of present and future generations. The Natural and Scenic Rivers Act established criteria and methods for inclusion of components to the system. Components of the Natural and Scenic Rivers System are State Rivers, and are also units of the State Parks System. Some units have been formally removed from
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