If you fish at Cane Creek Reservoir in western Orange County, practice catch and release and don’t eat the fish..
OWASA tested three kinds of game fish from Cane Creek and found high levels of forever chemicals in all three species in May 2025. OWASA said PFAS were found in all three with notably high levels of PFOs.
The fish tested were bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass.
One PFAS compound known to impact human health, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), was found to be at very high levels in all five individuals of all three fish species.
Total average PFAS compounds were found to range from 73.4 parts per billion (ppb) in bluegill to 130 ppb in largemouth bass. The concentrations in largemouth bass from the Cane Creek average are five times higher than largemouth bass tested from the Cape Fear River downstream from the Chemours Fayetteville Works facility where a fish advisory was issued.
While this initial data is limited, OWASA said, these numbers are also up to ten times the amount found in fish in the Great Lakes, an area considered to have elevated PFAS levels in fish (11.8 ppb) and where fish consumption advisories have been issued; and up to 13 times higher than the U.S. average PFAS in freshwater fish found in the EPA’s rivers and streams study (9.5 ppb).
OWASA said, “We are continuing our work to collect and perform PFAS testing of other common species of fish caught at Cane Creek Reservoir, including crappie and catfish. In tandem, we are working with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to evaluate fish consumption advisories for the Cane Creek Reservoir, and the Orange County Health Department on public health communications around fish consumption.”
They also plan to test the fish at University Lake, Chapel Hill.
Background: OWASA said in fall 2024, results from studies at UNC-Chapel Hill showed high levels of PFAS found in fish in nearby Jordan Lake and the Haw River. Meanwhile, results from PFAS testing in the watershed of Cane Creek Reservoir had prompted OWASA to seek advice and assistance to test fish in the reservoir for PFAS.
Assisted by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, OWASA worked to collect three fish species commonly caught in the reservoir. Fish collection began in early 2025, and OWASA received analysis of the data from PFAS testing of three species in May 2025.
The OWASA board took no additional action at the June meeting. “OWASA will strengthen our language in our communications, recommending that visitors not consume the fish. We plan to post signs,” said Monica Dodson,” OWASA deputy executive director.
“The decision to issue an official fish advisory would come from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. We plan to continue working with them, but they have not issued an advisory.”
Meanwhile, use catch and release fishing at Cane Creek and don’t eat the fish. The lake is open Friday-Saturday 6:30 to 6 through Oct. 25, including Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day. Fees are charged.
J.B.