Umstead Coalition Request Alternatives to the Proposed Cary Parkway Extension
New Lands at Umstead - Barber Property Donated
The Biodiversity of Umstead State Park
NC Legislature Increases the NC Conservation Tax Credit Program Limits
Backwoods Orienteering Klub Map Updated
NC Road Runners' Donation Helps at Umstead
Umstead Coalition Spring 1999 Hike Schedule
For More Information:
919-852-2268 or 919-821-4473
This proposed road would extend Cary Parkway from its current terminus at Harrison Avenue and would be largely constructed on land outside the Cary Town limits. The proposed road would negatively impact the Cary Academy, SAS Institute, NCSU's research farmland, the environmental sensitive Reedy Creek drainage, and the Medfield residents before connecting to Trinity Road at Trenton Road.
The Umstead Coalition's main concerns regarding the Cary Parkway Extension include:
Biodiversty, the different species and their interactions, appears critical for the planet's air, soil, and water quality, and therefore for the development of medicines, crops, and other products. Let's consider biodiversity in general, then focus on the biodiversity of Umstead Park.
According to E.O. Wilson, a well-known ecologist and author of "The Diversity of Life," (W.W.Norton & Company, 1992), we haven't the slightest idea how many species exist in the world. Wilson writes that about one and one half million species of animals, plants, and microorganisms are known, but there could be ten million to one hundred million unknown species. Although many new species are discovered each year, probably no complete inventory has been developed for any environment on earth. So in your lifetime, you will never know all the species calling Umstead State Park their home!
If we combine insects (53% of all known species) with their relatives the spiders, ticks, and mites, etc., we have a group know as the arthropods. This group is so numerous in species numbers (62 percent of all known species) and so great is their effect on the planet, that Dr. Wilson is rather certain that if we removed them all from the earth, that humanity and multitudes of other species would die off within months!
Two groups of living things make up approximately 78 percent of all species in Umstead State Park: the angiosperms, or flowering plants (16 percent), and the arthropods (62 percent). Flowering plants include much of the vegetation you'll see in the park. Most of the trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses fall into this category.
Robert Coxe, a botanist and member of the Umstead Coalition, maintains a list of Park plant species he derived from others' work and that he has expanded and modified. The list contains almost 800 angiosperms, in addition to other types of plants. He acknowledges that he is probably missing a number of small, rare types (some angiosperms are only 1 millimeter long).
As for other species in the Park, the Umstead Coalition has no compendium of the insects or other arthropods; nor of entire groups of worms such as nematodes, which are extremely common everywhere; nor of the lower plants such as the mosses, nor of all the mushrooms and other fungi (Kingdom Fungi), one-called creatures like protozoa and algae (Kingdom Protista), or the bacteria (Kingdom Monera). So Umstead Park creatures, we hardly know you! If anyone has knowledge of such studies, please contact Frank McKay or Tom Weber.
Some naturalists working in the park have established numbers for the larger, colorful organisms that are near and dear to our hearts - the vertebrates. The list now includes sixty species of reptiles and amphibians, over 185 bird species, and more than twenty mammal species.
In conclusion, though we have much to learn about both world and local biodiversity, those of us strolling through the Park can only marvel at the variety in nature we see and feel. The mystery and enchantment we experience surrounded by a flood of life provides us with another reason to argue for Umstead State Park maintenance, protection, and expansion.
"I argue that every scrap of biological diversity is priceless, to be learned and cherished, and never to be surrendered without a struggle." - E.O. Wilson, "The Diversity of Life," 1992
Frank McKay,
Tom Weber
Effective January 1, 1999, The NC Legislature has increased the limits available under the Conservation Tax Credit program to $500,000 for corporations and $250,000 for individuals. Any unused portion of the credit may be carried forward for five succeeding years. The landowner must obtain a Certification from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that the donated property is suitable for one or more of the required public benefits to attach to their tax return.
For more information, contact:
N.C. Conservation Tax Credit Program
c/o Office of Legislative & Intergovernmental Affairs
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
P.O. Box 27687
Raleigh, NC 27611
(919) 715-4191
Copies of the new map can be purchased for $8.00 at Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), The Great Outdoor Provision Company, or at the Umstead Park Visitor Center. A portion of every map purchased at the Visitor Center goes to benefit the Umstead Coalition's efforts.
The most recent streamwatch was March 13, 1999. David Wojnowski, the NC Streamwatch Coordinator, gave a presentation of macroinvertebrate sampling using a kick net. We had over 20 participants and divided into 6 groups to over 6 miles of Richland Creek.
National Trails Day is Saturday, June 5. There will be trail projects nationwide. At Umstead, REI will have its annual work day.
Also at Umstead, there will be a National Trails Day celebration hosted by the NC Division of Parks and Recreation. Approximately 15 Triangle area trail clubs and area municipalities will be represented. Information on trail opportunities in the Triangle Region and State will be displayed. There will be gifts for attendees.
Location: Picnic Shelters at the US70/Crabtree entrance to Umstead State Park.
National Trails Day this year is "Celebrating a Century of Trails", in recognition of the cultural, historic, social, and geographic significance that trails across the country represent. Last year in 1998, National trails Day participants hiked or rode 22,000 miles, performed maintenance work on 18,500 miles of trail and opened or built 2,500 miles of new trail. Now that's something in itself to celebrate!
For more information, contact:
Kim Douglass
Piedmont Regional Trails Specialist
Yorkshire Center
12700 Bayleaf Church Road
Raleigh, NC 27614
Phone: 919-846-9991
Fax: 919-870-6843
E-mail: Kim_Douglass@mail.enr.state.nc.us
The new Office Assistant at the William B. Umstead State Park Visitor Center is Carol Tamburrino. Most recently Carol worked in a library for about one year at a biotechnology research company in RTP. Previous to that she was a state employee at the State Education Assistance Authority also located in RTP for close to 4 years. Carol is familiar with the park and has been a frequent visitor for the past several years. She comes to walk her two dogs on the many trails located here and to enjoy the surroundings.
April 17 - Low Impact Trail Use. Join a ranger at 11:00 am in the Reedy Creek parking lot at William B. Umstead State Park for a hike down Loblolly Trail to discuss ways that park users and park staff can enhance our trail system, as well as how visitors can lessen their impact. The hike is 6 miles long so dress appropriately. Expect the hike to take approximately 2 to 2 ˝ hours. Please call 571-4170 for more information.
April 25 - Eternal Erosion. Join a ranger at the William B. Umstead State Park Visitor Center for a short hike to discuss erosion. Participants will see a number of structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps to slow down the natural process. The program will begin at 12:00 noon. Please call 571-4170 for more information.
May 2 - What's The Dirt All About? Hike with a ranger on Sal's Branch Trail, approximately 2 miles, to see evidence of poor soil conservation and measures taken by the Civilian Conservation Corps to correct it. Meet at the William B. Umstead State Park Visitor Center at 1:00pm. Program will last approximately 1 hour. Please call 571-4170 for more information and reservations.
May 8 - More Than Just Wood. Meet in William B. Umstead State Park at the small parking lot near the Crabtree Picnic Area at 2:00pm for a hike along Oak Rock Trail. A ranger will lead the hike and make frequent stops to discuss the many non-lumber related ways that people have used native trees. Hike is approximately 1 mile and will last 1 to 1 ˝ hours. Please call 571-4170 for more information.
May 15 - Past, Present, Future. A ranger will lead a short hike and discussion on past, present and future events that shaped the park. Meet at 1:00pm at the William B. Umstead State Park Visitor Center. Program will last approximately 1 hour. Please call 571-4170 for more information.
May 22 - Wildlife Abounds At William B. Umstead State Park. Join a park ranger and learn what animals abound at William B. Umstead State Park and learn some of the animal's habits you may see. Meet at the Park Visitor Center at 6:30 pm. Program will last approximately 1 ˝ hours. Bring binoculars if you have them. Please call 571-4170 for more information and reservations.
June 6 - A Look Into Umstead's Past. Come to the William B. Umstead State Park Visitor Center Auditorium at 2:00 pm for a slide show of early park construction and history. Program will last approximately 30 minutes. Please call 571-4170 for more information.
June 12 - Floating For Fauna And Flora. Meet rangers at the Big Lake Boathouse at 4:30pm for a canoe trip around the lake. Observe and identify plants, animals, and birds native to William B. Umstead State Park. Canoes, paddles, and life jackets provided. Binoculars recommended. Some canoe experience is recommended and Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Program will last approximately 1 ˝ hours. Reservations are required. Please call 571-4170 for more information and reservations.
June 13 - Tree Identification On Sal's Branch Trail. Hike with a ranger and learn how to identify some trees by leaves and bark. Meet at the William B. Umstead State Park Visitor Center at 2:00 pm. Program will last approximately one hour. Please call 571-4170 for more information.
June 19 - Creature Feature. Meet at the William B. Umstead State Park Visitor Center at 2:00 pm to learn about the wildlife found in the park. The program will last approximately 45 minutes. Please call 571-4170 for more information.
Mar 6. Umstead Coalition Volunteer Work Day! Hike to a new offtrail tract of Umstead Park and help with soil conservation. Tom Weber, 380-7993
Mar. 13. Streamwatch and Threats to Richland Creek Corridor. Uli Gratzl, 859-4095 or Jean Spooner, 828-5859.
Mar. 20. Park Trails (up to 14 miles). Rod Broadbelt*
Mar. 27. Early Spring Botany. Robert Coxe, 876-1690.
Apr. 3. Ecology Walk. Frank McKay, 844-7436.
Apr. 10. Spring Wildflowers. Frank Briden, 844-1566.
Apr. 17. Musical March for Umstead!
Apr. 24. Visit historical stone sites in north of park with Tom Weber, 380-7993.
May 1. Wilderness Hike, 5-6 hours. Meet 8:00 on Ebenezer Church. Rd. next to the Crabtree Creek Bridge (just downhill from J. & H. Stables. Bring lunch and water. Questions? Call Rod Broadbelt at 363-6611 before 8:00 p.m.
May 8. Umstead Coalition Volunteer Work Day! Get yer hands dirty maintaining a Park trail. Tom Weber, 380-7993
May 15. Hike Eastern and Mid-Park historical routes with Stories in Stone author Tom Weber, 380-7993.
May 22. Appreciating the Park. Nancy Gutjahr, 783-8571.
May 29. Park Trails (up to 17 miles) Rod Broadbelt.*
May 29. General Nature Hike. Tom Howard,
June 5. National Trail Day Celebration (Crabtree Picnic Shelters), Kim Douglas, 846-9991
June 12. Richland Creek Streamwatch. Jean Spooner, 828-5859.
June 19. Park Trails (up to 11 miles) Rod Broadbelt.*
July 3,4,5 ENO FESTIVAL. Judy Allen (919)-477-4549 / enofest@gte.net
*No need to call for Rod Broadbelt's hikes. Meet at 8:00 am. at the parking lot at the end of Harrison Ave., in the Park (except on the May 1 Hike). Bring your lunch. For further details, call 363-6611, before 8:00pm.
rev. 1:43 PM on 3/21/99