Erin Smith
Heartland Publications
LUMBERTON — Two Bladen County brothers have started a petition to clean up a 63-mile-long waterway that travels through Bladen, Robeson and Columbus counties.
Terry and Donald “Ronnie” Cain say they want a “snag” operation performed on Big Swamp’s waterways before they are completely dammed up by debris from logging operations and trees that have blown over during storms.
“In another 20 years there won’t be anything such as Big Swamp,” Terry Cain said. “It’s just damming it off. It’s not the beavers, it’s Mother Nature.”
The brothers say in some areas of Big Swamp, the water is low and in other areas, it’s not flowing at all.
“There is no way to float a boat in it because of the debris,” Ronnie Cain said.
Cain said the state will eventually lose on out revenue from fishing licenses that won’t be purchased because the swamp is too clogged to fish in.
Both men said they have fond memories of growing up fishing in Big Swamp with their grandfather, and of fishing there with their children.
“… We want to see our children and grandchildren be able to go there,” Cain said.
Cain said he approached government officials about cleaning the swamp, and were told that there were no funds available for a cleanup. The two men said they have also talked with U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre’s office regarding the issue and were told they would “look into it.”
“Everyone I’ve talked to said they would be glad to make a $10 donation or give a donation for snagging,” Cain said.
The brothers said there are logs in the water that, if drug out, could still be used. They also said they know of areas where the logs laying at the bottom of the swamp are 100 years old or more.
“There is probably millions of dollars worth of petrified timber that can still be used if it’s drug out of the water,” said Ronnie Cain.
Cain said that the swamp has always been important to the community. In the 1930s and earlier, people who didn’t have jobs would go into the swamp and cut Cypress shingles to sell or trade for the goods they needed.
Those interested in signing the petition can contact Ronnie Cain by calling 910-648-2634.
“I want to keep that heritage alive,” he said. “It’s an asset to the public for Bladen, Robeson and Columbus counties. It’s just being neglected. It’s public waters and there needs to be a solution.”
Those interested in signing the petition can contact Ronnie Cain by calling 910-648-2634.
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