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New Hope Corridor Open 4a" Maser Plait <br />II. New Hope Corridor Open Space Mastu Plan: Details <br />The New Hope corridor, which includes New Hope Creek, Mud Creek, Sandy Creek, and <br />Dry Creek, is situated between Durham and Chapel Hill and encompasses portions of <br />Durham County and Orange County. A large area of undeveloped land remains between <br />the two cities and lies in the two counties. However, much of the remaining open land is <br />in the hands of developers. A good portion of this land is in the form of floodplain and <br />steep slopes. Existing development pressures dictate the need to preserve some of the open <br />space that is left. <br />Some efforts have been made to identify and preserve open land areas. The Inventory of <br />Natural Areas and Rare Species of Durham County (1987) has identified areas of regional <br />importance within the New Hope Creek corridor. The Leigh Farm buildings are on the <br />National Register of Historic Places. The New Hope corridor wetlands are included in the <br />Regional Wetlands Concept Plan of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (August 1990; <br />' draft); the wetlands have been identified and designated as warranting "priority <br />consideration for acquisition with funds appropriated through the Land and Water <br />Conservation Fund." In addition, Duke University owns thousands of acres in both <br />counties and preserves them for teaching and research purposes by the School of Forestry <br />and Environmental Studies. Duke Forest has remained a wooded open space that is <br />enjoyed and appreciated by thousands. The southern end of the corridor is owned by the <br />Corps of Engineers. The Eno River State Park is at the northern end of the corridor. <br />In spite of these efforts, residential subdivision and commercial land development have <br />been occurring at an extremely rapid pace. The floodplains of New Hope Creek, Mud <br />Creek, Sandy Creek, and Dry Creek, as well as Duke Forest, the Corps land, and Eno <br />River State Park, are being crowded to their boundaries. There is an immediate need to <br />create a means for preserving significant open space for wildlife preservation, plant habitat, <br />protection of water quality, and enjoyment by the citizens of the region. <br />Is <br />