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Tree
Issues
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Tree Issues:
(Rick Roti, rroti@carolina.rr.com; 704-544-8636):
Forest Canopy Renewal Program.
Sierra Club together with Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation employees
and other members of our community plan and implement annual tree planting events
in our
county parks to supplement our aging tree canopy. Plantings are done in late
fall or early winter.
If you have particular parks you would like to have considered for this effort let us know.
Charlotte Tree Canopy Analysis.
Tom Lannin and Rick Roti presented a program on the just-completed Mecklenburg
County Tree Canopy Analysis Project at the March meeting. The initial analysis
phase is complete and our trees have been valued in terms of storm water management
savings and air quality savings. Work with the Charlotte Tree Advisory Commission
and others in planning projects to educate the public and expand canopy analysis
and tree protection regionally.
If you want to work on state-of-the-art tree protection projects this one
is for you.
Charlotte Tree Trust Program.
Volunteer to teach grade school children the value of trees by presenting the
Trust's educational
program and planting a tree on campus. Neighborhood Tree Grants. Work within
your community to
plant trees through Charlotte's Co-op tree program.
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Water
Quality
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Water Quality:
Water Quality Framework/Catawba Watershed Protection
(Rick Roti, 704- 544-8636; rroti@carolina.rr.com).
Sierra's Water Quality subcommittee is working with the Catawba Riverkeeper
to develop a set of recommendations for the Board of County Commissioners to
consider in developing a water quality framework through which we can better
protect the Catawba River and its watershed. Our Club must stay engaged and
work to toughen our ordinances. Now that the Mecklenburg Tree Canopy Analysis
Project is complete, we will begin planning a major effort to identify streams
that need streamside tree canopy using our new analytical software and aerial
photographs. We will work with Mecklenburg County Division of Water Quality,
Parks and Rec, the Catawba Riverkeeper and others. Once streams are identified,
plans for tree planting projects will follow. If you have an interest in water
quality, these projects are for you.
Carolina Heelsplitter Habitat:
(Chris Bush, cbush@dsinc.com, 704-243-2427
).
Union County is the fastest growing county in North Carolina. The pressures
for sprawl are tremendous. Union County is also the home of the Carolina Heelsplitter,
an endangered species of freshwater mussel. Because of their filtration method
of feeding, mussels are an excellent indicator species for water quality. The
Sierra Club's NC Chapter and the Central Piedmont Group are working on a public
education project to ensure that proper protections are put into place as plans
are made to build a bypass for US74 around Monroe. Construction will occur along
a corridor that impacts the Carolina Heelsplitter's habitat. Without proper
safeguards to protect water quality, this work threatens to extinguish the mussel
from three of its five remaining habitats.
Also, the bypass needs to be designed in such a way that it does not encourage
sprawl. Currently, Union County commissioners and others have been advocating
unneeded interchanges as an 'econonmic development engine." Without proper
planning , we know that means sprawl with all of the associated damage to the
environment and our health. As part of the project, we will be working to persuade
public officials in Union County to use a development plan that protects air
and water quality, sets aside green space, and employs true smart growth measures
to ensure a good quality of life for everyone in Union County rather than creating
sprawl that benefits a few at the expense of the rest.
Become involved in conservation projects and anti-sprawl programs to protect
this endangered species' habitat along Goose Creek. Chris schedules regular
outings in the habitat and work must be done to improve protection politically.
This project will have major focus in 2003.
If you are interested in working on this project, please contact Chris Bush
at 704-243-2427 or cbush@dsinc.com. We
especially need volunteers who live in Union County.
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Air Quality
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Air Quality
Air Quality Committee
(Nancy Bryant,704-375-7019; ronancyb@bellsouth.net).
This committee focuses on various initiatives designed to improve air quality
locally and regionally. Most of our members serve through the new Carolina Clean
Air Coalition whose mission is "restoring clean and safe air for a vibrant
community". Five Sierrans were appointed to the new Mecklenburg County
Air Quality Commission. Stay tuned for good things from this new group. We are
looking for additional volunteers to help with community outreach.
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Greenways
and Parks Issues
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Greenways and Park Issues
Little Sugar Creek Greenway
(Steve Copulsky, scopulsky@mindspring.com;
704-543-7493
This greenway will run 12 ½ miles from Cordelia Park (off
N. Davidson St.) through Freedom Park and Park Road Park and down through Pineville
to the South Carolina border. Work to make it the best it can be. Steve Copulsky
is serving on the Planning and Design Committee.
Greenways and Parks Management
(Steve Copulsky, 704-543-7493; scopulsky@mindspring.com).
Expand and accelerate the acquisition and preservation of the Greenways/Parks
network throughout Charlotte for hiking, walking, and bike riding. Become involved
in regional greenway planning that is just beginning.
Green Building
(Ann Jackson, 704-332-7004 ext 303; a.jackson@fwagroup.com).
This team promotes the expansion of Green Building and Low Impact Development
techniques throughout our area.
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Wilderness Committee
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Wilderness Committee
Meets the 4th Monday of the month. Issues facing Public National Lands are discussed. This committee also oversees the 25 falls program. (See outings for more details). Contact Karl Munn at 704.375.5111 for more details.
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Inner City Outings
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Inner City Outings
Inner City Outings (ICO) is a community outreach organization dedicated to taking underprivileged invididuals into the natural environment for the purpose of environmental education and fun. To find out more, click here. (Must have Adobe Acrobat Reader Installed).
New Trips just scheduled:
Contact Janinea Shelton janineashelton@hotmail.com
ICO
recently completed outings
Hanging Rock Trip
The participants really have a great time on these hikes. To quote one, "
I felt happy about the day, and I wasn't even tired when we got back, I enjoyed
my day , and liked spending it outside instead of watching TV." To read
Jason's complete decription of his trip to Hanging
Rock....
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Transportation
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Transportation
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Reddman
Forest
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Reddman Forest:
(Brad Kuntz, 704- 532-2379; ratsnest74@hotmail.com).
A forest tract with potential as an urban forest preserve has been identified
in the eastern part of town. Opportunities exist to participate in scouting
the potential for this area and working to develop a plan to preserve this area
for habitat and recreation. If you'd like to get involved at the ground floor
and work with elected officials and neighbors to preserve trees, contact Brad.
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Smart
Growth
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Smart Growth
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