News from Friends of Lower Haw River State Natural Area

DCHC MPO Seeks Comment on 30-Year Plan for Future Transportation Priorities
Want to protect the human and natural environment and minimize climate change? Connect people and places? Promote safety, health and well-being? Prioritize trails and greenways?

If you’re interested in the 30-year plan for future highway, bicycle, rail, pedestrian and transit projects for our region, now’s your chance to give your feedback by August 5th on how the process to identify these projects will take place. The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) is seeking public feedback now on their proposed goals and objectives and their public engagement plan for the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP).  The DCHC MPO is responsible for planning and programming state and federal transportation projects in all of Durham County and the urbanized areas of Orange County and Chatham County.  The 2050 MTP will identify future highway, transit, rail, bicycle, pedestrian and other transportation projects for this region over the next 30 years. Residents and other stakeholders are asked to provide comments by completing this online survey in English or Spanish, or visiting the DCHC MPO website and providing comments directly by email by Wednesday, August 5th. Residents and stakeholders may also directly address the DCHC MPO Board on these two items on Wednesday, August 12th beginning at 9 a.m. during their virtual board meeting. 

Secret Life of Wildlife Caught on Camera
Our three wildlife cameras have recorded 27 different species at six different locations since we first installed them. Since June 2019, one of our cameras has recorded 22 different species including some really cool ones like American Mink, American Beaver, Gray Fox, Red Fox, Coyote, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Wild Turkey, Great Blue Heron, and Barred Owl, plus many other more common species. Another camera installed in December 2019 has recorded 15 species, including Muskrat, Bobcat, and Striped Skunk. A third camera is being relocated because we could never find the right location in its three previous locations, but it did capture our only records of Canada Goose and Groundhog. Typically we record between 5 and 10 species per camera each month. Thanks to Matt Spangler who coordinates our camera project, and to our volunteers who monitor the cameras each month. Here are images of some of the more elusive wildlife recorded by our cameras since we first began this project in March 2019. 

Enjoying Nature Through a Lens
During this time of COVID-19 precautions, Friends of Lower Haw has suspended holding group events. We hope to resume events and group volunteer workdays at a later time. Meanwhile, enjoy summertime by the Haw River on your own or with family! As with previous issues, we're sharing wonderful photos taken in the Lower Haw River State Natural Area. To see more nature photos in past issues of our newsletter, check out the Publications page on our website. You can also find nature photos on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

NC State Parks Full Reopening Plan Delayed
State Parks has published its phased reopening plan for units of the park system. Please check their website for updates. Lower Haw River State Natural Area has remained open. Jordan Lake State Recreation Area trails and facilities reopening plan for Phases 2 & 3:

Phase 2 (May 22 - August 6): Some campgrounds open by advance reservation only, Robeson Creek canoe access and boat ramp open, New Hope Overlook boat ramp and hiking trail open, Seaforth boat ramp open. All other facilities remain closed including visitor center, all beach areas, all picnic shelters, restrooms, and all other hiking trails and boat ramps not mentioned above. 
Phase 3 (tentative date August 7): full reopening of all facilities

State Parks has the following recommendations for all visitors:
To ensure health and safety, park visitors should follow the “Three W’s” as outlined by the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services – wear a mask or cloth face covering; wait in line at least six feet away from others, and wash hands frequently. Visitors should also follow local health orders, maintain social distancing, bring hand sanitizer and reusable water bottles, avoid high-risk activities that could lead to calling first responders who are needed elsewhere during the pandemic, and practice Leave No Trace principles. 

Friends of Lower Haw would like to thank State Park employees for their dedicated service during these challenging times!

We Have a New Logo!
Check out our new logo! Board member Anne Geer created the design, along with donated in-kind Adobe Illustrator assistance from Anne Kachergis of Kachergis Book Design in Pittsboro. A big thank you to both for our new logo!