Bear Creek (Neuse River tributary)

Bear Creek is a tributary of the 275 miles (443 km) Neuse River, the largest river in North Carolina.[1] The creek rises in the east of Wayne County, North Carolina,[2] Wills Pond to the north of New Hope Road impounds Old Mill Branch, a tributary of Bear Creek that enters from the right (west) near the creek's headwaters. Further north Bear Creek W/S Lake Number Three impounds the headwaters.[3] The creek flows southeast on the county line between Wayne and Greene counties, it enters northwest Lenoir County and flows southeast to the Neuse River.[2] Bear Creek flows south under U.S. Route 70 between Goldsboro and Kinston.[4]

The creek is named in local records as early as 1742.[2] Originally a bottom land swamp, it was drained by canals to allow farming in the early 20th century.[4] Bear Creek today drains an agricultural watershed, including crops and intensive animal farming.[5] Land use in the watershed is 67% agriculture, 25% forest, 5% water or wetland and 3% urban.[6] The creek is primarily fed by groundwater.[7]

The creek receives high levels nitrate from frequent runoff of surface water.[5] Nitrogen delivery into the stream is enhanced by using tile drains to channelize runoff.[8] Bear Creek was continuously monitored from May 2002 to May 2003.[9] Drainage ditches in the watershed sometimes had nitrate concentrations above 10 mg/L.[8] Nitrate yields in the creek exceeded 810 kg N km⁻².[9] In an effort to restore the creek's natural functions, more than 3 miles (4.8 km) of drainage canals were backfilled in the 180 acres (73 ha) Bear Creek-Sleepy Creek Core Restoration Area. The large earthen levees were removed and replaced by lower, more natural structures to retain water. The area was then planted with almost 50,000 young trees in 2001.[4]