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Camping in the Nature Preserve
Bunn Hill Creek
Bunn Hill Creek is a ravine with a stream running through the center of
it that runs parallel to Bunn Hill Road. The ravine provides an
excellent escape for hikers and nature lovers by buffering the area
from the sights and sounds of civilization. The trees and other
vegetation within the ravine are likely to be original old growth;
early photos of the area show it as a line of trees on either side of
the creek surrounded by fields. Bunn Hill Creek itself is clear and
looks to be clean and free of pollution. It is occupied by a variety of
organisms including small fish, water striders and crawfish. The
surrounding forest is home to raptors, song birds, squirrels, deer,
coyotes, skunks and other typical New York wildlife. There are numerous
waterfalls and pools along the creek that provide a peaceful setting
for picnics or to simply sit and meditate. Access to Bunn Hill Creek
can be gained via the causeway built by the University off of Bunn Hill
Road. Hikers may continue along the ravine into Nuthatch Hollow with
the permission of the property owner as long as they are respectful of
nature.
One of the first issues that must be addressed is whether or not to put
up a sign at the causeway to direct people into Bunn Hill Creek.
Overuse of the area could cause damage to the environment as people
trample vegetation, cause erosion and introduce trash and other
pollutants. However, the Creek is a beautiful and unique resource for
our University and should be enjoyed and cherished. If there are not
people who know of the area there may not be enough support if it is
ever in danger of being developed. Erecting a sign would reinforce the
rules that must be followed on University property to prevent damage to
the environment and is therefor recommended. If overuse occurs the sign
can be removed: with the high turnover of the population at BU, most
students graduating in four years, the trail head will soon be
forgotten.
The next issue would be whether or not to put a trail along Bunn Hill
Creek. A trail is a scar on the landscape, an obvious sign that man is
in the area. However, a trail will prevent damage in the long run.
Carefully planned trails will reduce more erosion that they will cause.
People tend to take the shortest path when not told where to go, and
trails straight up a hill allow water to rush down, stripping topsoil.
In contrast, a planned trail that switchbacks along hills will slow the
water. Also, planned trails can direct people away from delicate plants
and areas that could be easily damaged. Finally, a planned trail will
keep the hikers themselves safer by helping them avoid areas with
slippery footing.
The final issue is the matter of camping within the Bunn Hill Creek
ravine. My initial reaction was that it was a great idea. There is a
flat area with a nearby freshwater spring that would be perfect for
camping. The ravine provides a peaceful setting free from the noises of
civilization, making it feel like you are further from campus than you
are in reality. However, when I did an informal survey of people who
had hiked in Bunn Hill Creek I got a very negative reaction. Everyone
thought that camping in the narrow ravine had too much potential to
cause problems. They felt it would be best to keep Bunn Hill Creek as
pristine as possible.
In February I went back into the Bunn Hill Creek ravine to take another
look at the area and reassess the idea of camping. At the border of
Nuthatch Hollow and University property the ravine walls are further
back from the creek, providing a flat area more than wide enough to
accommodate a camp site, a trail as well as space for a picnic site. A
freshwater spring bubbles out from the base of the hill on the eastern
side and could easily be protected to make it a source of drinking
water, although water quality testing is recommended.
One of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls is right next to this
part of the ravine, making it a natural spot for camping. Just over a
the small hill that surrounds the site is a flat, out of the way area
where an outhouse and its compost system could be constructed. This
would make the outhouse invisible from the trail so that it would not
detract from the scenery. It is my opinion that a camp built at this
spot along Bunn Hill Creek would cause negligible damage to the
environment.
Camping in the Nature Preserve
Previously there has been no camping allowed in the Nature Preserve.
Concerns included lack of insurance to cover injuries sustained on
University Property, damage to the environment and wild parties in an
area that is difficult for the police to keep and eye on. However, with
the proper planning a safe campsite could be built and maintained.
One potential problem of camping in the Nature Preserve would be fire.
To prevent fire from spreading a fire circle must be built and checked
regularly for damage. All fires must be built within the fire circle
and properly extinguished. Campers would have to be made aware of the
basics of fire safety prior to their trip. Harm can also come from
campers stripping the area for kindling and logs to burn. Dead logs and
branches provide an invaluable environment for plants, fungi and
animals in the forest. I recommend installing a shed at the edge of the
campsite stocked with wood and kindling so that people don not have to
use the surrounding forest as a source for materials to burn.
The Nature Preserve must also be protected from litter. Campers will
bring in food and other products wrapped in paper, plastic and foil.
Rather than having a trash barrel near the site which will fill up and
spill litter all over, campers must be told to pack out any refuse and
dispose of it when they get home. Food scraps could be buried in a
compost pile but might attract wildlife. This issue may have to be
explored further in the future.
In addition to the problem of trash we must also consider the damage
caused by the tents and people walking around the camp site. To protect
the area we should limit the number of campers and tents allowed at the
camp site at any one time. I would recommend no more than six people
and two tents per day. Only Binghamton University students, faculty and
staff should be allowed to camp in the Preserve to prevent overuse.
Permits will be sold through the Binghamton Outdoor Pursuits office by
Mike and Birdie. By putting these limits on the use of the site we can
cute down on damage due to trampling and the erosion of the topsoil.
Another consideration that must be addressed is the use of soap by
campers. Soap is a pollutant that gets into the water system. Soaps
containing phosphates can cause eutrification in the ponds and wetlands
at the center of the Preserve. Eutrification is the overgrowth of algae
in response to added nutrients which eventually leads to a die off and
the reduction in dissolved oxygen in the water. This is extremely
harmful to fish and other aquatic organisms. Soap has other effects on
ponds and lakes. It alters the surface tension qualities of the water
and can be directly harmful to organisms by interfering with their
plasma membranes. To prevent soap from entering the water system in the
preserve we must ban campers form using it. When permits are purchased
campers will be told to use disposable wipes that will be packed out
along with the rest of their trash for cleaning both themselves and
dishes.
Perhaps the most important element of the camp site will be the
outhouse. A standard outhouse with a simple hole in the ground would
add bacteria and other pollutants to the water. Campers could spread
waterborne, intestinal pathogens when they leach from the outhouse down
towards the pond. The nitrates in the both feces and urine can also
cause eutrification. To prevent pollution of the Preserve I recommend
the use of a composting toilet. This system will keep pathogens and
nitrates out of the pond and wetlands. It is also relatively cheap and
easy to build and will not cause offensive odors.
The best location to build a camp site and its associated outhouse is
along the Saddle Trail. There is a level area on the side of the hill
large enough to accommodate tents, a fire pit, an outhouse and other
necessary structures. It is far enough off the trail so as hikers
don’t see it while out enjoying nature and the campers will
not be disturbed by other people. There is a freshwater spring nearby
to provide water for the campers that is far enough off the trail so
that a spring house could be built to keep the water clean. The site is
easy enough to access that someone could enter the Preserve to check on
campers or perform maintenance duties related to the spring house,
outhouse, fire pit, etc.
The Composting Toilet
I was surprised to learn of the number of people who use composting
toilets on a regular basis. There were numerous companies selling
prefabricated toilets or plans to make them. These toilets were low
temperature composters with multiple chambers. The chambers require
frequent raking and the addition of fresh straw to reduce odor. There
are several major problems with the prefabricated systems. The first is
that they require frequent maintenance that campers will not be likely
to want to do themselves; raking and leveling of the pile. The second
is that they are expensive, costing about $2000 to build or buy. The
final problem is their large size. Not only would all the materials be
difficult to transport up the trail, the outhouse would become the
dominant feature of the camp site. Because of all of these problems I
would recommend a small hot composting system.
There are a number of issues that must be considered when building a
composting toilet. The proper ratio of carbon and nitrogen must be
maintained in order for the bacteria to break down any waste. This is
accomplished by adding untreated wood shavings or straw constantly to
the pile to add carbon, providing a balance for the human waste which
is high in nitrogen. The shavings and straw will also serve to aerate
the pile, further encouraging decomposition. It is important to use
wood shavings that are not treated chemically as these will add
pollutants to the environment. It is also important to add food scraps
to provide extra nutrients to the bacteria, speeding up the
decomposition process.
The toilet itself is comprised of a seat screwed on top of a box. A
five gallon bucket sits under a hole cut into the box. About half the
bucket should be filled with wood shavings initially. After each use
additional wood shavings are pilled on top until there is no odor
escaping. The bucket is then emptied into a compost pile when full. The
load should be dumped in a small depression in the center of the
composting pile then covered with straw to encourage maximum
decomposition. Waste water created by cleaning the bucket may be dumped
on the compost pile. About one bucket of wood shavings is needed for
each waste bucket. Campers should be encouraged to include their food
scraps in the waste bucket.
The waste from the toilet will be composted in a three chambered
system. One chamber is for storing straw, one is for active dumping and
the other is for “resting” the pile. The first
chamber is filled then allowed to decompose for a year before the
compost can be used. The next year the second chamber is filled. At the
end of the second year the first chamber is emptied while the second
pile rests. The composting bins could be built behind the outhouse to
keep them out of site.
The composting toilet is environmentally friendly because the carbon
and nitrogen in the compost will be balanced and so will not pollute
the water supply of the preserve. Also, a hot composting system will
kill any pathogens before they can contaminate the water system.
Kiosk/Sign
A kiosk could provide a great deal of information to anyone entering
the Nature Preserve. It should be placed in a visible location with
high traffic, most likely at the start of the Marsh Trail by the top of
lot M. Additional kiosks are recommended at the Lehigh Avenue entrance
at the causeway leading to Bunn Hill Creek. The major part of the kiosk
would be a map showing the trails and major features within the
Preserve. It would also be useful to include slots for informational
fliers and paper maps. One section could be devoted to seasonal
information which would change throughout the year. In the fall we
could include handouts on fall foliage, in the spring we could have
information on flowers and migratory birds. The possibilities are
endless. There should also be space for fliers relating the rules of
the Preserve and why they should be followed. There could also be a
handout on the history of the Preserve. A section to post announcements
about tours, special hikes and upcoming maintenance would also be
beneficial. I would recommend a bin to provide plastic bags for people
to clean up after their dogs as well as a trash barrel positioned away
from the kiosk to encourage people to keep the Preserve clean. There
could also be a bin on the kiosk for a guest book where people could
record sightings of wildlife and their thoughts and feelings about the
preserve.
Information about composting toilets were gathered from the
“Humanure Handbook”
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