Agenda - 05-28-1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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New Rope Corridor Open Space Master Plan east of Mt. Moriah Church Road, one finds the Biscayne Road White Oak stand, which has large numbers of large white oaks, some more than two feet in diameter and some of which are estimated to be between 100 and 120 years old. In themselves, these species are neither rare nor unique. However, in this day and age, it is uncommon to find them in such numbers and in an area between and so close to two cities. The corridor also provides habitat for wildlife, ranging from deer to four -toed salamanders. True, it is seldom that a person, casually walling or riding through the corridor, sees a deer or a salamander, but these and other species are part of the natural diversity that is essential to the well-being of our environment. Finally, the corridor contributes to the protection of the water quality enjoyed by the community. Although the corridor is not the only source of protection for Jordan Lake water quality, the floodplains and steep slopes in the corridor are very valuable in maintaining the water quality of the creeks that feed into Jordan Reservoir and, consequently, are valuable components of the overall water quality protection available to the region. Detailed descriptions of the areas in the corridor are provided in Section II, Master Plan: Details. The Value of Seeping the Corridor Open. If the corridor were abandoned today to whatever may happen in the future, it would be reasonable to expect gradual intrusions into portions of the floodplains. Timber removal and installation of non- building uses would be likely to occur over increasingly large areas of the floodplain. As a result of removal of vegetation and other topographical disturbances, erosion and sedimentation from adjacent development would affect more and more of the steep slopes. Thus, over time, the corridor would gradually lose its value to both the natural world and to the people in the community. As has already been noted, the corridor offers a number of valuable environmental protections--to water quality, to diverse wildlife species and their habitats, to birds by providing sanctuaries, to fish and waterfowl, to botanical species that are either regionally rare or present in unusually great diversity and numbers in an urban area. The corridor is also of great recreational value to Triangle residents and visitors. The corridor should never be a major active recreation area --it can be too wet and has too much value in maintaining environmental quality to be developed with ball fields and other active uses. However, it offers unlimited opportunity for walking, observing