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On Saturday, May 2, 2009, the Upper and Lower Neuse Riverkeepers will begin a journey to paddle the entire 250 miles of the Neuse River during the month of May. This trip, beginning at the headwaters of the Neuse River at Falls Lake Dam, will take the Riverkeepers along wooded areas in Wake and Johnston Counties, under Highway 70 and Interstate 95, and through the Neuse “Bottom Lands” and cypress swamps before ending in Oriental on May 31. During the trip, the Neuse Riverkeepers will monitor the state of the river and meet with local representatives to discuss water quality issues and the current state of the Neuse River. During May, the Riverkeepers will be on the River a total of 80 hours over a 13 day period, paddling between 7 and 24 miles per day. The journey is being called Tour de Neuse 2009.
Other activities included in this year’s Tour de Neuse are a free Family Fun Concert at the Smithfield Town Commons featuring The Boys from Carolina Bluegrass Band on Friday, May 8; a youth campout at the Kinston Nature Center on Friday, May 22; the annual Neuse River Day held at Union Point Park in New Bern on Saturday, May 30; and a boating flotilla running from Union Point Park to Oriental on Sunday, May 31.
Three years ago, the Upper and Lower Neuse Riverkeepers made the same journey. A daily journal of their 2006 expedition is posted on the Neuse RIVERKEEPER® Foundation’s website. This year, the trip has been planned for weekend days in May to allow citizens of the Neuse River basin to participate in the event.
The Neuse RIVERKEEPER® Foundation recently celebrated 29 years of river research and protection. For sixteen years, it has supported the Neuse Riverkeepers who provide constant vigilance and a strong voice for the protection of all 250 miles of the Neuse River under the certification of WATERKEEPER® Alliance. The Upper and Lower Neuse Riverkeepers work to advocate for and improve the water conditions for the citizens of North Carolina through investigation, education and public involvement. The Neuse River runs through eleven counties in North Carolina, encompassing over 6,000 square miles of watershed.
Opportunities to join the Tour are still available. For more information, visit the Tour de Neuse 2009 page on the Foundation’s website – www.neuseriver.org.
OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IF YOU'RE NOT PADDLING
•Saturday, May 2, 2009 -- 9:30 a.m.—10:00 a.m.: Falls Lake Dam boat ramp (across Falls of the Neuse Road from Paddle Creek) in Raleigh, send the Riverkeepers and volunteer paddlers on their way.
•Friday, May 8, 2009 – Smithfield Town Commons -- 3:30 p.m. Paddlers arrive; 6:30 p.m. Family Fun Concert featuring The Boys from Carolina Bluegrass Band; free to the public.
•Sunday, May 17, 2009 – 4:00 p.m. -- Boat ramp, downtown Seven Springs (town cookout).
•Friday, May 22, 2009 – 5:00 p.m.: Youth Campout, Kinston Nature Center, Kinston.
•Saturday, May 30, 2009 – 11:00 a.m.: Neuse River Day, Union Point Park, New Bern.
FULL SCHEDULE OF TOUR DE NEUSE 2009
May 2 – Falls Lake Dam to the Millburnie Dam in Raleigh.
May 3 – Millburnie Dam to Hwy. 42 Bridge in Clayton.
May 8 – Hwy. 42 Bridge to Smithfield Town Commons.
May 9 – Smithfield Town Commons to Howell Woods Learning Center in Four Oaks.
May 10 – Howell Woods to Ferry Bridge Road.
May 15 – Ferry Bridge Road to US 117 in Goldsboro.
May 16 – US 117 to Alan Daly property.
May 17 – Alan Daly property to Seven Springs.
May 22 – Seven Springs to Kinston Nature Center.
May 23 – Kinston Nature Center to Maple Cypress Landing.
May 29 – Maple Cypress Landing to Cool Springs Environmental Center.
May 30 – Cool Springs Environmental Center to Union Point Park in New Bern.
May 31 – Union Point Park to Oriental.
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