Deep River at Ramseur

Supporting conservation and outdoor recreation along the Deep River State Trail and Blueway

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CONNECTING RAMSEUR TO THE DEEP RIVER

 We partnered with the Town of Ramseur to permanently protect nearly 27 acres of riverfront along the Deep River and connect the community to it. 

 An 11-acre tract along the river is now under a permanent conservation agreement, protecting nearly 2,400 feet of riparian forest buffer and about 3 acres of wetlands. An additional 16 acres, acquired with a NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant, is now permanently dedicated for public park and recreation use. Together, these parcels form a contiguous stretch of publicly accessible riverfront in the heart of Ramseur.

The project also established a new trailhead, parking area, and trail connector linking downtown Ramseur to the Deep River Trail and Allen H. Leonard Memorial Park. Our work on this project also enabled our partners, American Rivers and Resource Environmental Solutions (RES), to lead the charge in removing the Ramseur Dam.

Removing the dam is restoring a more natural flow to the river and providing a boost to aquatic habitat for species like the federally endangered Cape Fear shiner and several freshwater mussel species. This project was made possible through the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the NC Land and Water Fund, with cooperation from the previous landowner. 

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Total Number of Acres Protected

0.25

Miles of Trail To Be Added

1

New Trailhead To Be Added

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CONSERVE

The 27-acre project site will be protected in part through a conservation agreement and be limited for uses that support outdoor recreation or environmental benefit.

This project will help directly protect over 1,300 linear feet of outstanding aquatic habitat designated by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program.

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Healthy Habitats

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Floodplain Protection

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RESTORE

Once the site of the Columbia Manufacturing Company’s cotton mill and rock dam, this site has long-held importance for the Ramseur community. As we work with the Town to secure ownership of the site to support their outdoor recreation goals, we are also examining the opportunity to restore the Deep River through dam removal while still supporting the community’s ability to enjoy the river.

Ramseur Dam no longer supports power generation and has breached as the obsolete structure continues to age. Research and modeling will help us understand how the river would likely respond to dam removal.

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HABITAT

Aquatic habitat at this location is known to support several state-listed mussels such as the Yellow Lampmussel, Triangle Floater, and Creeper.

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Mussels

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ACCESS

The Deep River State Trail will be enhanced with this project. A trailhead will be established and additional wayfinding will be added to increase use and safety. Additionally, 0.25 miles of trail will be added and directly connect the trail to downtown Ramseur.

A portage trail will be established to help paddlers using the Deep River State Trail Blueway navigate safely past Ramseur Dam. If the dam is removed, the addition of a paddle access will be explored.

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Paddling

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Hiking

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Trailhead

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Wayfinding Signs

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Project Gallery

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Ramseur PARTF Site Map V7 10.10.23The Deep River at Ramseur Project

The North Carolina governor signed legislation in 2007 to authorize the Deep River State Trail, a network of recreational amenities and conservation lands that follow the Deep River from its headwaters to its confluence with the Haw River.

Since then, the state parks system, state agencies, local governments, land conservancies, non-profit organizations, and landowners have coordinated to develop a corridor of land and paddle trail recreation opportunities. The town of Ramseur and partners have developed and been establishing a section of the Deep River State Trail, known locally as the Deep River Trail or Rail Trail, which serves as a greenway utilizing the old rail bed parallel to the Deep River, as well as the Deep River Blueway, a paddle trail.

To date, the town has completed a 1.25 mile section of trail from US 64 to Harlan’s Creek, and from Harlan’s Creek to Liberty St. The Ramseur Dam project will develop another section of trail that will help connect the trail to Allen H. Leonard Memorial Park, establish a new trailhead at Brooklyn Avenue Bridge, create a publicly accessible portage around Ramseur Dam, and preserve a location for public river access near their downtown area, which the town lacks. Specifically, this project proposes to:

  • Acquire two parcels of land totaling about 27 acres at a culturally and environmentally significant site (a portion of which will be accomplished through a NC Land & Water Fund acquisition grant to Unique Places to Save, with land transferred to Ramseur)

  • Establish a total of approximately 0.25 miles of trail

  • Establish a new trailhead and crosswalk at the Brooklyn Avenue Bridge

  • Incorporate educational signage about local natural and cultural history

  • Provide a publicly accessible portage around Ramseur Dam to support the Deep River Blueway

  • Preserve a location for a public river access point

Project Partners
  • Town of Ramseur
  • Randolph County Trail Coordinator/Deep River State Trail Coordinator
  • North Carolina Land and Water Fund
  • North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund
  • Former State Rep. Allen McNeill
  • American Rivers & Grant Team
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government or American Rivers and its funding sources. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government, or American Rivers or its funding sources.

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HEALTHY RIVERS SUPPORT STRONG COMMUNITIES

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