Tentative Program

Streamwatch Sept. 18 - Meet at 9 am

The next Umstead Coalition sponsored StreamWatch on Richland creek is coming up.  I hope you'll join us as we perform our stream watch duties.

Here are the details of the program:

WHEN AND WHERE:
The dates for the next stream watch(es) are:
 - Saturday, September 18, 2004
 - Saturday, December 4, 2004

The meeting time and place for each streamwatch is 9 AM at Richland Lake on Reedy Creek Road in Raleigh (between Trenton Road and Blue Ridge Road). 
WHAT:
The Umstead Coalition is responsible for the StreamWatch of Richland Creek upstream of Umstead State Park. Richland Creek begins as a couple tributaries generally in West Raleigh near the near the Fairgrounds and eventually flows into Richland Lake near the Southeast corner of Umstead State Park and then into Crabtree Creek downstream of Umstead State Park.

As far was what we actually do during the StreamWatch, we walk up or down a stream bed taking pictures and notes, and picking up any stray garbage we may find.  We do this to compile a written and visual history of the stream, this is useful to chart changes in the stream typically related to pollution sources or development adjacent and upstream of watch site.  If we can demonstrate impacts to the stream, we can better advocate for the stream and against sources of stress to the stream and ultimately Umstead State Park.

The stream is in a pretty area, and it's primarily in the woods.  We're walking in brush much of the time and crossing the creeks, but depending upon the level of the creek and how far you can jump, sometimes your feet get wet, so you need to either wear shoes you don't mind getting wet, or teva type sandals which are meant to get wet (my choice) or boots which are meant to keep your feet dry.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
We provide:  camera, work gloves, trash bags.

You provide:  Your own drinking water/snacks, appropriate clothing and shoes/boots.  You may also want to bring sunscreen or bug spray.  Ticks are active in most wooded areas in warm seasons.

To get there, turn off of Blue Ridge Road onto Reedy Creek Road across from the NC Art Museum, continue across Edwards Mill Road, Reedy Creek Road turns to gravel, park on side of road just before Richland Lake.  I can provide better directions if you're not familar with the area.

This weblink should map roughly to the location where we meet:

http://tinyurl.com/277zy

You can work with us for as long as you like, but we're typically finished between noon and early afternoon.

This is a fun way to get outside and see some nice stream sites, we hope you'll join us! Let me know if you have any other questions.  Also, if you plan to attend a StreamWatch, please let me know, so we know to expect you.

Charles Bachmann
Umstead Coalition StreamWatch Coordinator
home ph: 859-1399