2003-03-18-Grants Creek

Grants Creek.

	I just bought a new Sparky from Island Riggs Kayaks. Ray is a lot of help there. This is Elmer’s story! Jim Crownover returned to North Carolina from Pennsylvania this week. He is the original trashman of the White Oak. Two years ago he spent his entire vacation cleaning up the White Oak and here he is again, deja vue. Grants Creek was cleared by J. R. Batchelor of Onslow crew of blown down trees and Beaver Dams. Today, Dale Weston, Ed Yon, Jim Crownover and the writer cleaned it of all trash. You did a great job JR. Next we will paddle Starkeys Creek and Western Creek which we understand you have also cleared. Top section from Galloway Jones Road is not recommended for paddling at these water levels. It is very narrow and needs about a foot more water. (Gauge on the New was at 210 cfs and 5.25 feet.) Need another foot. And then there is a dirt road with two low culverts which we suggest you carry over. See pics. Next section is very interesting. The cut through on the beaver dams keeps the swamps' water level down and exposes bare banks which were previously under water due to the dams. It makes for surprisingly different type of paddling for us. Mild hump-overs and light strainers are encountered at this water level in this section. It is a very good worth while paddle at this level and above. Belgrade-Swansboro Road Section is a dream. We now have a brand new paddle trail cleared all the way to the White Oak. You can then paddle up stream to Haywoods or down stream to Long Point. You can paddle this section at any water level, we think. Good road side parking too. We had a very enjoyable day. Thanks again JR for making this possible. We now have a new access to the White Oak River and a new trail to paddle.

I just bought a new Sparky from Island Riggs Kayaks. Ray is a lot of help there. This is Elmer’s story! Jim Crownover returned to North Carolina from Pennsylvania this week. He is the original trashman of the White Oak. Two years ago he spent his entire vacation cleaning up the White Oak and here he is again, deja vue. Grants Creek was cleared by J. R. Batchelor of Onslow crew of blown down trees and Beaver Dams. Today, Dale Weston, Ed Yon, Jim Crownover and the writer cleaned it of all trash. You did a great job JR. Next we will paddle Starkeys Creek and Western Creek which we understand you have also cleared. Top section from Galloway Jones Road is not recommended for paddling at these water levels. It is very narrow and needs about a foot more water. (Gauge on the New was at 210 cfs and 5.25 feet.) Need another foot. And then there is a dirt road with two low culverts which we suggest you carry over. See pics. Next section is very interesting. The cut through on the beaver dams keeps the swamps' water level down and exposes bare banks which were previously under water due to the dams. It makes for surprisingly different type of paddling for us. Mild hump-overs and light strainers are encountered at this water level in this section. It is a very good worth while paddle at this level and above. Belgrade-Swansboro Road Section is a dream. We now have a brand new paddle trail cleared all the way to the White Oak. You can then paddle up stream to Haywoods or down stream to Long Point. You can paddle this section at any water level, we think. Good road side parking too. We had a very enjoyable day. Thanks again JR for making this possible. We now have a new access to the White Oak River and a new trail to paddle.

Our URL is http://www.crownover.com/kayaklinks.html

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	I want to get each of you info on these two subjects: Award for Elmer, and Meet our Legislators. The note that Elmer forwarded to us was unclear to me about the date. So . . . I cut and pasted Sarah Humphries note as follows: I hope we can all make it. We accomplish at least two important things: 1. Recognize Elmer and the contribution he has made both by physically cleaning rivers, and also by leading others to value and improve stewardship of our natural resources. 2. Give the County Commissioners a chance to recognize the amount of support that active stewardship of our public trust waters earns from the citizens who vote them in (or out) of office. They know their polling data. Each of us who shows up at an event represents nearly 500 additional citizens who hold similar views. - The issues They ask for an RSVP by April 1. Please give them a call and tell them you'll be there. (The Methodists love to cook breakfast, and I love to eat breakfast.) The Keep Onslow Beautiful Committee Cordially invites you to join us at the Twentieth Annual Robert L Franck Awards Breakfast Thursday, April 3, 2003, 8:00 AM Trinity United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall Guest speaker, Commissioner Delma Collins Sponsor: Sprint RSVP 910-455-4470 by April 1 Next Topic: Let's go to Raleigh and Meet our Legislators with enough folks to make an impression. I have attended this legislative day the last two years. Last year, I was the only person from Onslow County there. Legislators are more attentive a significant numbers of registered voters from their home district than they are to 1 or 2 'tree huggers' who can easily be dismissed. We are really mainstream people willing to act on such fundamental principles as stewardship of our natural resources, and policies which promote life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for each of us. We have little patience with manipulative business practices which provide temporary spikes in profit at the expense of virtually every segment of society (except the guy that sets it up, rides the known temporary boost, and jumps ship with the loot). One factoid: Onslow County's most famous environmental 'event' was the 25 million gallon hog spill from Oceanview Farms. It took the state attorney general 6 months to dig deep enough to find out who actually owned the place. Who owned it? An offshore subsidiary of BP. Our state legislators are the ones who control the big environmental issues (like pass rules that deny counties the right to act against agri-business polluters). Last year on Clean Water Day legislators 'just happened' to be treated to a 'free lunch' on the grassy commons (BBQ Pork of course) while we were attempting find them to discuss the health and quality of life impact on the other 99.9% of the citizens and farmers who do not make money by 'cost avoidance of animal waste disposal' but who do vote. Yes, we also need further action to assure that private sewage disposal, septic systems, and storm water runoff problems are addressed and eliminated. So, if you can, please read the following and respond to their RSVP and check out the map. Thanks, Dale Weston Board Member, New River Foundation PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE CLEAN WATER LOBBY DAY On Tuesday, March 25, citizens from across the state will head to Raleigh for the Clean Water Lobby Day. The event is sponsored by a coalition of environmental groups. We are inviting you to join the NC Coastal Federation delegation as we speak with coastal and Triangle legislators about protecting coastal habitat and water quality. We will gather at 10:00 a.m. in the ground floor hearing room of the Archdale Building for a briefing on legislative issues and training on how to lobby. We’ll spend the rest of the day speaking with legislators and then head home by 2:30 p.m. For a map of the capital complex showing the Archdale Building (#7), please go to: http://www.enr.state.nc.us/files/capmap.htm Some of the main issues for the lobby day are: Fully fund the Clean Water Management Trust Fund at $100 million and the Farmland Preservation Program at $4 million in the state budget. Support legislation to reduce stormwater runoff and sedimentation from polluting coastal rivers and sounds. Halt proposed legislation that would repeal water quality rules that protect outstanding resource waters. Please join us for this great opportunity to speak up for clean water. For more information or join a car pool to Raleigh, please contact Jim Stephenson or Lauren Kolodij at 1-800-232-6210. If you plan to attend, please let us know by replying to this email. To sign up to attend online, please visit http://www.ncconnet.org/p.asp? WebPage_ID=287. NO WETLANDS – NO SEAFOOD

I want to get each of you info on these two subjects: Award for Elmer, and Meet our Legislators. The note that Elmer forwarded to us was unclear to me about the date. So . . . I cut and pasted Sarah Humphries note as follows: I hope we can all make it. We accomplish at least two important things: 1. Recognize Elmer and the contribution he has made both by physically cleaning rivers, and also by leading others to value and improve stewardship of our natural resources. 2. Give the County Commissioners a chance to recognize the amount of support that active stewardship of our public trust waters earns from the citizens who vote them in (or out) of office. They know their polling data. Each of us who shows up at an event represents nearly 500 additional citizens who hold similar views. - The issues They ask for an RSVP by April 1. Please give them a call and tell them you'll be there. (The Methodists love to cook breakfast, and I love to eat breakfast.) The Keep Onslow Beautiful Committee Cordially invites you to join us at the Twentieth Annual Robert L Franck Awards Breakfast Thursday, April 3, 2003, 8:00 AM Trinity United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall Guest speaker, Commissioner Delma Collins Sponsor: Sprint RSVP 910-455-4470 by April 1 Next Topic: Let's go to Raleigh and Meet our Legislators with enough folks to make an impression. I have attended this legislative day the last two years. Last year, I was the only person from Onslow County there. Legislators are more attentive a significant numbers of registered voters from their home district than they are to 1 or 2 'tree huggers' who can easily be dismissed. We are really mainstream people willing to act on such fundamental principles as stewardship of our natural resources, and policies which promote life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for each of us. We have little patience with manipulative business practices which provide temporary spikes in profit at the expense of virtually every segment of society (except the guy that sets it up, rides the known temporary boost, and jumps ship with the loot). One factoid: Onslow County's most famous environmental 'event' was the 25 million gallon hog spill from Oceanview Farms. It took the state attorney general 6 months to dig deep enough to find out who actually owned the place. Who owned it? An offshore subsidiary of BP. Our state legislators are the ones who control the big environmental issues (like pass rules that deny counties the right to act against agri-business polluters). Last year on Clean Water Day legislators 'just happened' to be treated to a 'free lunch' on the grassy commons (BBQ Pork of course) while we were attempting find them to discuss the health and quality of life impact on the other 99.9% of the citizens and farmers who do not make money by 'cost avoidance of animal waste disposal' but who do vote. Yes, we also need further action to assure that private sewage disposal, septic systems, and storm water runoff problems are addressed and eliminated. So, if you can, please read the following and respond to their RSVP and check out the map. Thanks, Dale Weston Board Member, New River Foundation PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE CLEAN WATER LOBBY DAY On Tuesday, March 25, citizens from across the state will head to Raleigh for the Clean Water Lobby Day. The event is sponsored by a coalition of environmental groups. We are inviting you to join the NC Coastal Federation delegation as we speak with coastal and Triangle legislators about protecting coastal habitat and water quality. We will gather at 10:00 a.m. in the ground floor hearing room of the Archdale Building for a briefing on legislative issues and training on how to lobby. We’ll spend the rest of the day speaking with legislators and then head home by 2:30 p.m. For a map of the capital complex showing the Archdale Building (#7), please go to: http://www.enr.state.nc.us/files/capmap.htm Some of the main issues for the lobby day are: Fully fund the Clean Water Management Trust Fund at $100 million and the Farmland Preservation Program at $4 million in the state budget. Support legislation to reduce stormwater runoff and sedimentation from polluting coastal rivers and sounds. Halt proposed legislation that would repeal water quality rules that protect outstanding resource waters. Please join us for this great opportunity to speak up for clean water. For more information or join a car pool to Raleigh, please contact Jim Stephenson or Lauren Kolodij at 1-800-232-6210. If you plan to attend, please let us know by replying to this email. To sign up to attend online, please visit http://www.ncconnet.org/p.asp? WebPage_ID=287. NO WETLANDS – NO SEAFOOD

_{That little old webmaker
    in the sprucecave
     Jim Crownover}