[Durham INC] hike 14 feb Black Meadow Ridge

[Riojosie at aol.com]

PLEASE POST TO ANY LISTSERVES
What:   Hike Black Meadow Ridge
Date:   Saturday 14 February 2009
Time:   2-4pm
Where:   West Point Park on the Eno, 5101 N. Roxboro Road 27704
Duration: two hours
Hike Leader:   Josie McNeil, VP Friends of West Point Park riojosie at aol.com
Terrain:   Mostly level, sewer lines and woods, creek crossings (boots 
advisable and walking sticks for those who use them)

Directions:
Meet in the upper parking lot at West Point Park on the Eno, 5101 North 
Roxboro Road, site of the July 4th Festival for the Eno

Contact Information:     riojosie at aol.com

Details:

Hike around Black Meadow Ridge, the 60 acre tract immediately adjoining the 
southern boarder of West Point on the Eno Park. Many in the Durham community 
and surrounding area are working to save this tract from development.   (To 
learn more about this conservation effort, please see fowpp.org.)   A very special 
piece of land, this 60 acres has recently been described by Dr. Stephen Hall 
- Zoologist, N.C. Natural Heritage Program and Coauthor of the Durham County 
Inventory of Important Natural Areas, Plants, and Wildlife:

"Undeveloped uplands are quite rare within the Durham City limits and this 
particular tract is still likely to support viable populations of upland 
species, both due to its size -- 60 acres -- and to its connection to larger areas of 
upland habitats upstream via the unbroken movement corridor contained within 
the West Point City Park and the Eno River State Park. In the past, the Black 
Meadow Ridge has supported a nesting pair of broad-winged hawks (Buteo 
platypterus), which we consider to be rare within the eastern Piedmont. Other 
regionally rare species of upland animals may also occur there, including red-backed 
salamanders (Plethodon cinereus), which have been recorded at the Guess Road 
crossing of the Eno.

In addition to protecting the species that reside within the Black Meadow 
Ridge itself, this tract serves several buffer functions that are important for 
maintaining ecological integrity within the area already protected as part of 
the West Point on the Eno City Park. These include buffers against the 
penetration of noise, lights, domestic animals, and other types of disturbances 
associated with developed areas. Particularly along the two tributary streams that 
bound the eastern and western sides of this tract, the undeveloped lands that 
currently exist at Black Meadow Ridge also help protect water quality 
downstream within the Nationally Significant Eno River Aquatic Habitat. If this tract 
were to become developed, all of these buffers would be either reduced or 
eliminated, significantly adding to the cumulative total of impacts that the Eno is 
already facing. Consequently, a high priority should be given to bringing all 
substantial tracts of undeveloped lands along the parks' boundaries into some 
form of conservation protection."

The hike will also explore possible paths for the North South Greenway to 
connect into West Point Park. We will hike two sewer lines, one that is in 
floodplane, so foot gear that is good in water is recommended. Mostly level with a 
couple of creeks to cross (walking sticks recommended for those who like them)  
 approximately 2.5 miles round trip.

Contact Information:
riojosie at aol.com


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