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Durham County Engineering and Environmental

Biological Reports and Resources

New Hope Corridor

  • New Hope Creek Biological Inventory (2021 - 2022): In 2021, the Durham County Open Space Program contracted with the North Carolina Biodiversity Project to conduct a comprehensive biological survey of the New Hope Creek Corridor. Funded through a grant from the Burt's Bees Foundation, this study involved intense field research to tally species in over a dozen taxonomic groups. Their report describes a diverse ecosystem kept healthy by decades of concerted conservation efforts, unflinchingly documents the pressures that threaten the New Hope Creek Corridor and, and serves as an invaluable contribution not only to the protection of New Hope Creek, but to conservation science as a whole. 

 

  • New Hope Bottomlands Mapping Study (2023): Following the completion of the New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey, researchers from the North Carolina Biodiversity Project mapped and assessed a few select species, focusing on the County’s New Hope Creek Preserve. These species include two rare plants—shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa) and white-nymph (Trepocarpus aethusae)—and several other indicator species associated with rich alluvial habitats. These data will help the Open Space Program prioritize ecological management and continued protection of the most sensitive components of this ecosystem.

 

  • Breeding Bird Surveys (2024 - 2025): The Open Space Program has partnered with volunteers from New Hope Bird Alliance and the North Carolina Biodiversity Project to survey breeding bird species and populations at New Hope Creek Preserve and Hollow Rock Nature Park. The results from these surveys establish a baseline of qualitative and quantitative against which the results from future surveys can be compared. So far, the findings suggest that trends in local bird diversity and abundance mirror those seen across North America and much of the world. On the one hand, many permanent resident species appear to be stable, with some actually increasing in abundance. On the other hand, migratory species have fared poorly, with many species seeing substantial declines over the past few decades. In addition to providing data that can be used to improve conservation practices and inform land-use decisions, this breeding bird survey establishes a method, adapted from similar research conducted at places like Mason Farm Biological Reserve, that can be used regularly by trained volunteers to consistently monitor bird populations in the New Hope Creek Corridor and beyond.

 

  • Moth Monitoring (2021 - 2025): Although the 2021 - 2022 New Hope Creek Biological Survey offered a lot of good news about the success of conservation efforts throughout the Corridor, it also described significant declines in several taxa, particularly moths. Like many insect groups, moths have declined precipitously across the globe over the past several decades. Given their important ecological role - especially as a food source for migratory birds, whose numbers have also plummeted across the globe - their disappearance is cause for serious concern. Continued monitoring of moth populations is essential to better understand the threats they face and assess the impact of conservation measures and land-use changes. Since 2024, moth experts have volunteered to collect additional data on macro- and micro-moths on County lands along New Hope Creek. In August 2024, the Open Space Program partnered with these volunteers to host the County's first-ever public Moth Night event at Hollow Rock Nature Park. Nearly 50 people from across the Triangle attended to learn about moths and assist the researchers with documenting species at the Park. Over the next several weeks, staff worked with the event leaders to sort through the observations and data obtained throughout the evening. A report about the event, including a description of the findings, is available here. They hosted another Moth Night event, at the Bottomlands Trail, in June 2025. 

 

  • Carolina Butterfly Monitoring Program (CarBMP): The Carolinas Butterfly Monitoring Program (CarBMP) is a regional community science program that tracks butterfly abundance and diversity across North and South Carolina. Its success relies heavily on trained volunteers who collect data on established survey routes using a standardized, scientifically rigorous protocol. In 2025, the Open Space Program worked with CarBMP staff to set up a butterfly survey route at the Bottomlands Trail, and volunteers spent the spring and summer conducting regular surveys and uploading their data to the CarBMP database. We are looking for additional volunteers who can assist with this work in 2026, so if you have any interest in helping out or learning more about this work, please contact David Bradley, Open Space Specialist, at dabradley@dconc.gov or (919) 943 - 3997. Thank you!

 

Piedmont Prairies

Durham County is home to several remnant Piedmont Prairies, ecosystems which were once common throughout the region. Piedmont Prairies are often associated with areas of Iredell soils and diabase dikes found scattered throughout the Triassic Basin in the eastern part of Durham County. In 2023, Durham County contracted with a researcher from the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program to study Piedmont Prairies in Durham County. Collaborating with landowners who voluntarily granted permission to access their properties, the project identified several previously unknown likely Piedmont Prairie sites. Click here to view the report. 

 

Plant Surveys

The Open Space Program has supported vegetation surveys on many of the County's conservation lands in the New Hope Corridor, the Little River Corridor, and eastern Durham County. These studies provide not only a comprehensive list of plant species, but also a clearer understanding of the habitats and natural communities that in turn support much of the other life within the preserve. This information can then be used by Open Space staff to implement land management practices to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem health. To learn more about this work, please contact our Open Space Specialist at dabradley@dconc.gov or 919-943-3997. Thank you!