[Durham INC] Fwd: Hike Black Meadow Ridge

[Toby Berla]

Curious about Black Meadow Ridge, the parcel of land just south of West
Point on the Eno? Well, here is your chance to learn more about it!! See
below for details, and please forward to your neighborhood listservs.

Regards,
Toby Berla
member, Durham Open Space and Trails Commission

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Josie McNeil <riojosie at gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 8:40 PM
Subject: Hike Black Meadow Ridge
To: open space <durhamopenspace at duke.edu>




PLEASE SHARE - FORWARD - POST TO ANY LISTSERVES
What:  Hike Black Meadow Ridge  NO COST - NO CHARGE - NO FEE
 - NO REGISTRATION NECESSARY -
Date:  Saturday 26 March 2011
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 gmail.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 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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