N.C. Natural Heritage Program and Durham Interneighborhood Council Statements of Support for the Preservation of Black Meadow Ridge

A statement of support by Dr. Stephen Hall - Zoologist, N.C. Natural Hertitage Program and Coauthor of the Durham County Inventory of Important Natural Areas, Plants, and Wildlife,  and funded by the Durham County Board of Commissioners and the North Carolina Natural Heritage Trust Fund

"The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program supports protection of the Black Meadow Ridge as a natural area, having originally included it within the larger West Point on the Eno Significant Natural Heritage Area (Hall, 1995; Hall et al., 1999). 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."

References:

Hall, S.P. 1995. Inventory of the wildlife habitats, movement corridors, and rare animal populations of Durham County, North Carolina. NC Natural Heritage Program, Durham County Inventory Review Committee, and Triangle Land Conservancy.

Hall, S.P.; Sutter, R.D.; Pullman, E.; Simpson, A.C.; and Wilson, A.C. 1999. Durham County inventory of important natural areas, plants, and wildlife. NC Natural Heritage Program, Durham County Inventory Review Committee, and Triangle Land Conservancy.

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A Resolution Supporting the Preservation of the Black Meadow Ridge Tract
by the The Durham Interneighborhood Council

WHEREAS, the West Point on the Eno Park provides a unique and positive experience to the people of Durham, and

WHEREAS, a 60-acre tract neighboring the park known as Black Meadow Ridge overlooks the park and may be the subject of development, and

WHEREAS, the West Point on the Eno Park will be seriously harmed unless the Black Meadow Ridge is protected from development, and

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina has expressed interest in acquiring the West Point Park and the Black Meadow Ridge tract for incorporation into the Eno River State Park,

IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Interneighborhood Council urge the CIty of Durham to take all necessary steps to purchase, or cause to be purchased, the Black Meadow Ridge Tract;  that, if the State Park System's offer is the only means with which to preserve the tract, such offer be seriously considered, such that preservation of the tract is achieved while maintaining flexibility within the park for Durham residents;  and that the Interneighborhood council express support for the preservation of the Black Meadow Ridge tract.