Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2012 15:53:52 -0400
From: “Gretchen Smith”
Subject: Rocky River Walking Tour
2012 Exploring Nature in Chatham Series
Saturday, November 3rd from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon: Rocky River Walking Tour
Join the Siler City NC STEP’s leadership team in a guided walking tour of a proposed Rocky River Nature Trail in the Central Carolina Business Park. Our guide will be Donna Sivulka with the committee working on a Concept Plan for the proposed greenway trail. Funding for the Concept Plan is part of the NC Small Towns Economic Prosperity (NC STEP) revitalization program underway in Siler City. The Siler City and County Board of Commissioners will need to approve the Concept Plan in order for the proposed greenway trail to be developed. The Rocky River is located almost entirely within Chatham County and currently has limited public access points. Almost its entire length across the county is ranked highly as a Nationally Significant Natural Heritage Area because the river is home to several rare and endangered species. This walking tour is a special opportunity to learn more about the proposed trail and see parts of the river that are not usually visible to the general public.
Participants should wear long pants, light colored short or long sleeve shirt, and sturdy shoes for walking on uneven terrain. A temporary trail that is reasonably passable has been created along the river and across several ridges to facilitate a tour of the property.
Register for this free event by calling 919-545-8044 at Central Carolina Community College. For more information, visit
http://chathamconservation.wikispaces.com/Announcements.
Meet in the parking lot of the Chatham Medical Park building at 163 Medical Park Drive, located near Chatham Hospital in Siler City. Directions: From U.S. Highway 64, turn left (if coming from the East) or right (if coming from the West) onto Progress Blvd. If coming from the East and you pass Wal-Mart, you have gone too far; if coming from the West, you should pass Wal-Mart and then make a right turn. Once on Progress Blvd., travel about a half-mile and turn left onto Campus Dr. and then right onto Medical Park Drive. The first building on your left is the dialysis center and the second building is the Chatham Medical Park Building.
Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) Ecotourism program offered at the Pittsboro campus is the first of its kind in the state, designed to prepare individuals for employment opportunities as ecological tour guides, interpreters, or entrepreneurs. Ecotourism is travel to natural areas that focuses on local natural resources while also fostering environmental awareness. For information about enrolling in the Ecotourism program, contact CCCC at 919-545-8044.
Chatham Conservation Partnership (CCP) is a broad-based group of organizations and individuals with a common interest in conservation in Chatham County. CCP’s mission is to develop and implement strategies for a community conservation vision that builds awareness, protection, and stewardship of Chatham County’s natural resources. CCP has created an innovative new tool, the Comprehensive Conservation Plan, to help with identification and conservation of Chatham’s natural resources. This plan is the first of its kind created for a county in North Carolina and serves as a model for other counties. More information about CCP and the Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Chatham County is available at http://chathamconservation.wikispaces.com.