The data are imported into Microsoft Excel 5.0 spreadsheet format and compiled into the North Carolina Estuary-Net database. Data are reviewed for questionable data points and outliers are documented and removed. The Estuary-Net Program has been established to test several rivers in eastern North Carolina including the Cape Fear and the Neuse Rivers. The school is 5 miles from the river and many students live in Southport and are very familiar with the river. Water samples are collected from the Cape Fear river site using a 5 gallon bucket.
Specific gravity is measured using a hydrometer.
Air temperature is measured in degrees Celsius with an air thermometer 5. For several miles upriver, various creeks interact with the Cape Fear. Marshland is abundant as are small sand islands in the Cape Fear Channel. The water samples are taken at Riverfront Park in Southport from the municipal dock. Southport is a natural deep river port established in the 1700's as the local center of trade.