[Durham INC] FW: Hike Black Meadow Ridge Sunday 11 April 2010

[Pat Carstensen]

Sorry about double postings.....

Date: Sat, 3 Apr 2010 13:17:30 -0400
Subject: Hike Black Meadow Ridge Sunday 11 April 2010
From: riojosie at gmail.com
To: durhamopenspace at duke.edu


PLEASE SHARE - FORWARD - POST TO ANY LISTSERVES What:  Back Country Hike of Black Meadow Ridge  NO COST - NO CHARGE - NO FEE
Date:  Sunday 11 April 2010
Time:  2-4pmWhere:  West Point Park on the Eno, 5101 N. Roxboro Road 27704
Duration: two hours or maybe two and a half
Hike Leader:  Josie McNeil, VP Friends of West Point Park

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 gmail.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 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 Durham’s 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 gmail.com
 		 	   		  
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