Deep River is a tributary of the Cape Fear River, approximately long, in north central North Carolina in the United States. Deep River is a translation of the Indian name sapponah, "deep river".
Paddling is popular on the river. Deep River is flanked by the planned Deep River State Trail and several other parks and preservation areas including Carbonton Dam Park, House in the Horseshoe Historic Site, Deep River Park and Deep River Camelback Truss Bridge, Endor Iron Furnace, White Pines Nature Preserve, Lockville Dam, Canal and Powerhouse, and Mermaid Point.
There river is habitat to two federally-endangered species, the Cape Fear shiner, a critically endangered minnow, and the Atlantic Pigtoe, an endangered mussel.
Course
Deep River rises in the Piedmont country in western Guilford County, east of Kernersville. It flows southeast past High Point and Randleman, forming the Randleman Lake. It passes northeast of Asheboro, then flows east to Franklinville then to Ramseur, then passing north of Sanford. The Rocky River enters the Deep River at the White Pines Nature Preserve.Welcome to the Rocky River:The River Chatham County Can Call Its Own! Deep River joins Haw River at Mermaid Point near Moncure to form the Cape Fear River.
Dams
Deep River has 12 dams or relict dam structures and is the source river of the Randleman lake project that covers 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.
Until recently, the Deep River was host to the Carbonton Dam, the largest dam on the river at high and 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 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 Name, Bank Watershed Area in Square Miles (km2) Average Discharge Stream Length Mouth Coordinates Mouth Elevation Source Coordinates Source Elevation % of Average Discharge Remarks Mouth N/A The Deep River is formed at the confluence of the East and West Fork in High Point, North Carolina and flows southeast and east to join the Haw River to form the Cape Fear River near Moncure, North Carolina. Rocky Branch, left bank < 1% 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, left bank 17% 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, right bank < 1% 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, left bank 1% 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, right bank 1.5% 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, left bank 1% 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, right bank < 1% 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, right bank 2.8% 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, left bank 2% 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, right bank < 1% 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. Line Creek, left bank < 1% Line Creek, a 1st order tributary, rises in a pond about 3 miles northwest of Carbonton, North Carolina. Line Creek then takes an easterly course to meet the Deep River at Carbonton, North Carolina. Big Governors Creek, right bank 3.1% 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.
Tributaries of the Deep River in Moore County Name, Bank Watershed Area in Square Miles (km2) Average Discharge Stream Length Mouth Coordinates Mouth Elevation Source Coordinates Source Elevation % of Average Discharge Remarks McLendons Creek, right bank 7.3% McLendons Creek, a 4th order tributary, rises about 0.25 miles southeast of Elberta, North Carolina on the Drowning Creek divide. It then flows northeast to meet the Deep River about 1.5 miles northeast of Glendon, North Carolina. Lick Creek, right bank < 1% 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. Tysons Creek, left bank 1% Tysons Creek, a 3rd order tributary, rises in a pond about 3.5 miles southwest of Harpers Crossroads, North Carolina in Chatham County on the Falls Creek divide. It then flows south into Moore County and meets the Deep River about 1 mile northwest of Glendon, North Carolina. Scotchman Creek, right bank < 1% 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, right bank 1.7% 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. Falls Creek, left bank 1.1% Falls Creek, a 2nd order tributary, rises in a pond about 1 mile northwest of Harpers Crossroads, North Carolina in Chatham County on the Bear Creek divide. It then follows a southerly course to Moore County and meets the Deep River about 0.25 miles southeast of High Falls, North Carolina. Cedar Creek, left bank < 1% 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, right bank 10.2% 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, right bank 1.0% 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.