Deep River is a tributary of the Cape Fear River, approximately 125 miles (201 km) long, in north central North Carolina in the United States. Deep River is a translation of the Indian name sapponah, "deep river".[5]
There river is habitat to two federally-endangered species, the Cape Fear shiner, a critically endangered minnow, and the Atlantic Pigtoe, an endangered mussel.[7]
Deep River has 12 dams or relict dam structures and is the source river of the Randleman lake project that covers 3,000 acres (12 km2) of property on the river near U.S. Route 220. The river crosses the Fall Line of North Carolina, an area where rivers are quite rocky and have a moderately high gradient. This gradient was used to power mills along the river to support the early textile industry in North Carolina. The river, popular with canoeists, was a center of a great deal of activity during the American Revolution at places such as Franklinville and the House In The Horseshoe.
The Lockville Dam, built of stone, is the only portion of the 19th-century Deep River lock and dam system that remains today.[6]
Until recently, the Deep River was host to the Carbonton Dam, the largest dam on the river at 17 feet (5.2 m) high and 270 feet (82 m) wide. In the fall of 2005, the dam was removed for the purpose of creating environmental mitigation credit by Restoration Systems, LLC, a leading environmental mitigation company in North Carolina. The project restored 10 miles (16 km) of the former impoundment around the House in the Horseshoe to free-flowing river.
Tributaries
Tributaries of the Deep River in Chatham and Lee Counties
Rocky Branch rises in a pond about 2 miles south of Pittsboro, North Carolina on the divide between Rocky Branch and Turkey Creek. Rocky Branch is a 2nd order tributary that flows generally south to meet the Deep River about 1 mile northeast of Blacknel, North Carolina.
Rocky River rises in a pond in Liberty, North Carolina at the Rocky River, Sandy Creek, and North Prong divide. From the divide it flows in a southeasterly direction through the middle of Chatham County to meet the Deep River about 3 miles west of Moncure, North Carolina. Rocky River is the largest tributary in area and discharge on the Deep River.
Little Buffalo Creek rises in Sanford, North Carolina on the Gasters Creek divide and then takes a northerly course to meet the Deep River about 2 miles east-northeast of Farmville, North Carolina. This stream contributes less than 1% of the average discharge of the Deep River.
Georges Creek, a 3rd order tributary rises in a pond on the Bear Creek divide about 2 miles northeast of Goldston, North Carolina. Georges Creek takes a southeasterly course to meet the Deep River about 0.5 miles east of Farmville, North Carolina.
Big Buffalo Creek, a 3rd order tributary, is formed at the confluence of Skunk Creek and Persimmon Creek in Sanford, North Carolina. From the confluence it flows northwest and then curves east and north to meet the Deep River 0.25 miles southeast of Cumnock, North Carolina.
Cedar Creek, a 3rd order tributary, rises about 0.5 miles east of Goldston, North Carolina on the Bear Creek divide. It then takes a southeasterly course to meet the Deep River about 1 mile east-northeast of Gulf, North Carolina. This stream is one of two Cedar Creeks on the left bank of the Deep River.
Patterson Creek, a 2nd order tributary, rises in a pond about 1 mile north of Sanford, North Carolina on the Persimmon Creek and Raccoon Creek divide. Patterson Creek then flows north to meet the Deep River about 1.5 miles southeast of Gulf, North Carolina.
Pocket Creek, a 3rd order tributary, rises in a pond in White Hill, North Carolina on the Herds Creek divide. Pocket Creek then flows north to meet the Deep River about 1.5 miles south of Gulf, North Carolina.
Indian Creek, a 3rd order tributary, rises about 0.5 miles west of Goldston, North Carolina on the Bear Creek divide. Indian Creek then flows roughly southeast to meet the Deep River about 1.5 miles southwest of Gulf, North Carolina.
Smiths Creek, a 2nd order tributary, rises about 1.5 miles southwest of Gulf, North Carolina on the Little Pocket Creek divide. Smiths Creek then flows north to meet the Deep River about 1 mile southwest of Ebenezer Church.
Big Governors Creek, a 3rd order tributary, about 0.5 miles southwest of White Hill, North Carolina. Big Governors Creek then flows northwest and north to meet the Deep River about 1.5 miles southeast of Haw Branch, North Carolina.
Lick Creek, a 1st order tributary, rises in a pond about 1 mile southwest of Glendon, North Carolina on the divide of an unnamed tributary to the Deep River. Lick Creek then flows easterly to meet the Deep River about 1 mile southeast of Glendon.
Scotchman Creek, a 2nd order tributary, rises about 1 mile northwest of Parkland, North Carolina on the Buffalo Creek divide. It then flows northeast to meet the Deep River about 2.5 miles southeast of High Falls, North Carolina.
Buffalo Creek, a 3rd order tributary, rises in a pond about 0.5 miles northeast of Zion Grove, North Carolina on the Suck Creek divide. It then flows north to meet the Deep River about 0.5 miles southeast of High Falls, North Carolina.
Cedar Creek, a 2nd order tributary, rises in a pond about 0.25 miles southeast of Bennett, North Carolina in Chatham County on the Flat Creek divide. It then takes a southerly course into Moore County to meet the Deep River about 1.5 miles northwest of High Falls, North Carolina. This stream is one of two Cedar Creeks on the left bank of the Deep River.
Bear Creek, a 4th order tributary, rises in a pond in Seagrove, North Carolina in Randolph County on the Asheworth Branch divide. Bear Creek then flows southeast and curves northeast to meet the Deep River about 1 mile west of High Falls, North Carolina. Bear Creek is the second largest tributary in area and discharge on the Deep River.
Grassy Creek, a 3rd order tributary, rises about 0.25 miles northeast of Westmoore School on the Reedy Creek divide. It then flows east to meet the Deep River about 3 miles west of High Falls, North Carolina.
Fork Creek, a 4th order tributary, rises about 1 mile northeast of Michfield, North Carolina on the Bachelor Creek divide. Fork Creek then flows southeast to meet the Deep River 3 miles east-northeast of Jugtown, North Carolina.
Brush Creek, a 3rd order tributary, rises about 1.5 miles west of Staley, North Carolina on the Mount Pleasant Creek divide. Bruah Creek then flows southeast into Chatham County and then turns southwest back into Randolph County to meet the Deep River about 1 mile west of Cheeks, North Carolina.
Richland Creek, a 4th order tributary, is formed at the confluence of the North and South Prong southeast of Harvey Mountain. Richland Creek then flows southeast to meet the Deep River about 1 mile northwest of Cheeks, North Carolina.
Back Branch, a 2nd order tributary, rises about 2 miles northeast of Coleridge, North Carolina on the Broad Mouth Branch divide. Back Branch then flows southwest to meet the Deep River about 0.25 miles north of Coleridge.
Broad Mouth Branch, a 1st order tributary, rises in a pond about 2.5 miles northeast of Coleridge, North Carolina on the Back Branch divide. Broad Mouth Branch then flows southwest to meet the Deep River about 1.5 miles north of Coleridge.
Millstone Creek, 3rd order tributary, rises about 0.1 miles south of Browns Crossroads, North Carolina on the Brush Creek divide. Millstone Creek then flows southwest to meet the Deep River about 2 miles southwest of Parks Crossroads, North Carolina.
Mill Creek, a 3rd order tributary, rises in a pond about 2 miles northwest of Fox Mountain on the Gabriels Creek divide. Mill Creek then flows southeast to meet the Deep River about 2 southwest of Parks Crossroads, North Carolina.
Reed Creek, a 3rd order tributary, rises about 0.5 miles west of Staley, North Carolina on the Brush Creek and Mount Pleasant Creek divide. Reed Creek then flows southwest to meet the Deep River about 1 mile south of Ramseur, North Carolina.
Bush Creek, a 3rd order tributary, rises in a pond about 0.5 miles southwest of Lineberry, North Carolina on the Little Polecat Creek divide. Bush Creek then flows south to meet the Deep River at Franklinville, North Carolina.
Gabriels Creek, a 2nd order tributary, rises in a pond about 0.5 miles east of Asheboro, North Carolina on the Squirrel Creek divide. Gabriels Creek then flows northeast to meet the Deep River about 0.5 miles west of Cedar Falls, North Carolina.
Hasketts Creek, a 3rd order tributary, rises in Asheboro, North Carolina on the Cedar Fork Creek divide. Hasketts Creek then flows north-northeast to meet the Deep River about 0.25 miles north of Central Falls, North Carolina.
Polecat Creek, a 4th order tributary, rises on the south end of Greensboro, North Carolina in Guilford County on the South Buffalo Creek divide. Polecat Creek then takes a southerly course into Randolph County to meet the Deep River at Worthville, North Carolina.
Hickory Creek, a 3rd order tributary, rises at the south end of Greensboro, North Carolina on the South Buffalo Creek divide. Hickory Creek then takes a southerly course to meet the Deep River about 2 miles southeast of Freeman Mill, North Carolina.
Richland Creek, a 3rd order tributary, rises in High Point, North Carolina on the Payne Creek divide. Richland Creek then takes an easterly course to meet the Deep River about 3 miles southeast of High Point. This stream is one of two tributaries named Richland Creek to the Deep River. The other is in Randolph County.
Copper Branch, a 1st order tributary, rises about 1 mile east of High Point, North Carolina on the divide of an unnamed tributary. Copper Branch then flows east to meet the Deep River about 2 miles east of High Point.
Bull Run, a 3rd order tributary, rises in a pond about 1 mile west of Greensboro, North Carolina on the Long Branch divide. Bull Run then flows southwest to meet the Deep River about 0.1 miles southwest of Oakdale, North Carolina.
West Fork Deep River, a 3rd order tributary, rises in Kernersville, North Carolina on the Reedy Fork divide. West Fork than flows southeast to meet the East Fork Deep River to form the Deep River in High Point Lake.
East Fork Deep River, a 3rd order tributary, rises about 3 miles northwest of Greensboro, North Carolina on the Reedy Fork divide. East Fork then flows southeast to meet the West Fork to form the Deep River in High Point Lake.