David Cox, PhD represented District B on the Raleigh City Council for three terms from 2015 through 2022. He expresses his concerns about the proposed Neuse River Park which is located in District B.
When I first joined City Council I met advocates who introduced me to the idea of developing a white water rafting facility in the Neuse River near Falls dam. I was initially enthusiastic about the idea to add recreation to the river. However, as I learned more, I realized the tremendous negative impacts such a facility could have on the wildlife that depend on the river.
The area chosen by advocates for the facility is the southern channel around an island below the old Falls of Neuse bridge that crosses the river below the dam. Currently, the channel is rocky, shallow, and difficult to navigate. The river bank is difficult to access through a few narrow paths worn through the thick vegetation. The channel is absent human activity except for the occasional person fishing or taking pictures.
Further downstream from the island is a parking lot and a canoe launch. Today kayakers either brave the water between the dam and the island or enter the river below the island at the canoe launch. Due to the terrain human activity is limited in and along the channels around the island.
Every spring and summer the channels are inhabited by numerous species for nesting and feeding. Of these species the most noticeable are the herons. These grand birds with their enormous wing spans dominate the river and the skies.
Recently, Raleigh’s parks board approved a master plan for a new park that includes the channel around the southern side of the island. The plan calls for in-river “improvements” to alter the flow of water through the channel as well as relocating hazardous rocks and boulders. The plan also calls for disturbing the river bank to construct overlooks and paths. Overall, the goal is to open the southern channel around the island to greatly expanded human activity.
This plan will be coming to Raleigh City Council very soon for approval.
Needless to say, the presence of human activity, such as kayaking and whitewater rafting, not to mention in-river and river bank construction, must be carefully considered. Here are just a few of the environmental impacts that must be weighed:
Environmental Impact Considerations (1)
Disturbance to Wildlife:
-
- Herons and Other Wildlife: Increased human activity could disturb herons and other wildlife that rely on the river for feeding, nesting, or resting. Herons are particularly sensitive to disturbances, which might push them to abandon their habitat.
- Noise and Movement: Human-generated noise and water movement could affect fish populations, indirectly impacting herons and other aquatic predators.
Habitat Degradation:
-
- High levels of human activity may lead to bank erosion, water turbidity, and changes in water quality, all of which can reduce the suitability of the habitat for wildlife.
- The facility may also alter river flows, potentially impacting the availability of shallow areas where herons fish.
Carrying Capacity of the Ecosystem:
-
-
- Whether the ecosystem can sustain increased human activity without significant ecological degradation.
-
In my view, increased human activity in and along the southern channel will end the area as a viable habitat for herons and possibly other species. The City could spend a large amount of money to perform studies that will likely reach the same conclusion. Is it a gamble that the City should take with taxpayer money?
Ultimately, the Army Corps of Engineers owns the land along the southern channel and controls what can be done. In theory the Corps could grant the City permission to alter the river and the river bank with the goal of greatly increasing human activity in and along the southern channel. In doing so, we risk losing an important wildlife habitat.
Footnotes:
(1) Environmental Impact Considerations identified by chatGPT
If you appreciate the kind of reporting we bring to you
|
Please donate $10 or $20, Thanks for supporting |
 |