Meeting+2011+Apr+21

Thursday 8:30-10 1214 Jordan Hall, NCSU Campus
 * Wake County Nature Preserves Meeting**

**Attendance Notes** **Steelman in Honduras (don't cry for me)**

Present: Hess (presiding, notes), Blank, Perlmutter, Ramsey, Ramsey, Benson Kirkman

**Annotated Agenda Items**

**Introductions as needed**

**Request from Neuse RiverKeeper Foundation**

Hi George and Toddi,

I wanted to contact you because the Neuse Riverkeeper Foundation is organizing a project that the Wake Nature Preserves Partnership may be interested in. I serve on a service learning committee for the North American Association of Environmental Education. They're having their conference in Raleigh this October and in conjunction with the conference we've planned a service learning project.

We created the Neuse Riverkeeper Foundation Environmental Challenge, which will pair educators with partner organizations to create a service learning project that has a positive impact on the Neuse River basin. The idea is that nonprofit organizations will help educators learn about the Neuse River basin and identify water quality issues. The educators will then go back to their classrooms to help their students implement a project. Ideally, the projects will be student led. Right now, I'm looking for some partner organizations to help with the challenge. We would love it if Wake Nature Preserves Partnership would get on board.

Here is what we're looking for from partner organizations:
 * Provide expertise to partner schools about environmental issues related to the Neuse River.
 * Help students understand policies that relate to issues affecting the health of the Neuse River and its tributaries.
 * Assign one or more staff members to act as a school mentor in development of action project

Please see the attached information sheet as well as the Environmental Challenge flyer and let me know if you're interested in participating. We're having a training for the involved educators May 6-7 and participating organizations are invited (but not required) to attend.

Best wishes, Stephanie Bishop Outreach Coordinator RIVERKEEPER® Foundation

Attachement: [|Environmental Challenge Flyer 3.29.11.pdf]


 * Discussion Item:**
 * Do we want to participate?
 * Does anyone want to lead?
 * Can anyone go to the training?


 * NOTES**

Hess will call Stephanie and follow up - Blank also interested.


 * Updates**


 * WakeNature will accept Raleigh Environmental Award in Regional category tonight.** Reception 6-7P, awards 7P, Marbles Museum.
 * Hess and Snow will accept on behalf of WakeNature
 * All are welcome.


 * SWIFT CREEK BLUFFS**- Cieneck-Hammerbacher update


 * NOTES** - Leigh Ann not present.

I contacted Mary Kay Clark, the local bat biologist, for a possible date. We're looking at late April or May for an initial scouting trip to Turnipseed. Netting would likely happen later in the spring or summer.
 * BAT SURVEY UPDATE**-- Gary P.


 * NOTES** - MKC wants to do netting for bats at Turnipseed, but a site recon is needed first. Most likely places are along power line corridors or along wetlands. Will be looking for White Nose Syndrome - has not yet been recorded in Wake County, but is in NC.


 * TURNIPSEED LICHEN SURVEY PRESENTATION** - (Gary P). I will present a poster of the lichen survey results at the ABLS conference in Roan Mtn, TN this June. I'll show a draft of my poster (as a ppt. slide) here to see if anyone would like to comment on it.


 * NOTES** - Gary displayed his draft poster and asked for quick comments - wanted to make sure WakeNature was portrayed reasonably.


 * Carolina Vegetation Survey SITE ASSESSMENT** - (Gary P.). I toured Turnipseed, Swift Creek Bluffs, Hemlock Bluffs and Mitchell's Mill w/ Forbes Boyle to evaluate for potential CVS sampling this June. Forbes likes all but Mitchell's Mill, as the latter appeared too trashy and full of invasives. Turnipseed sites would include the bottomland forest in Sandy Branch, oak forest NE of the flatrocks, and beaver impoundments along Gin Branch.


 * NOTES**
 * Forbes & Shaefale are very interested in the beaver impoundments on Turnipseed; no quite definite yet.
 * Gary P wants us to consider Mtichell's Mill as a WakeNature Preserve. Falls Lake State Park manages Mitchell's Mill. It does not have a management plan. Does not look like we have capacity this year - perhaps 2012.


 * Side issue:** Ramsey mentioned that we should probably start preliminary evaluation / scoping of work needed on the Swift Creek Bluffs assemblage. Doing some of this before the class might help move things along. Maybe we can work with Leigh Ann to understand the status of the inventory and plans for this assemblage.


 * Memorandum of Understanding**

NCSU has signed.

I received emails from Sig Hutchinson-- OSAPAC (My presumption has been that Jamie would see this signature page through-- is that right?) Scott Anderson--WRC has moved it along to Kacy Cook who is our new contact person. I emailed Kacy and haven't heard back. Kevin Brice--TLC is moving it through their process Larry Petrovick-- Wake County Soil and Water Conservation Service - is checking and will get back Scott Pohlman--NHP - is working on it Chris Snow--Wake County - is working on it John Connors-- Museum - is working on it Gary Perlmutter-- UNC - is working on it

Not sure what to do about City of Raleigh and Holly Springs
 * Discussion items:**


 * NOTES**
 * Will be on OSAPAC agenda (Ramsey)
 * TLC had a board retreat this weekend. Tombaugh presented based on briefing from Ramsey. Board discussion about TLC formalizing partnerships in general. Tombaugh query "Isn't 3 years a long time for one Nature Preserve?" (Ramsey)
 * We need to do a better job of getting things lined up for moving nature preserve forward - sequencing.
 * Jamie suggests moving the MOU through Raleigh now as part of the Nature Preserves process. Send to Dick Bailey, copying Shoshona and Becky.
 * Follow up with Holly Springs in the future.


 * PUBLIC COMMENT FOR RALIEGH NATURE PRESERVES TASK FORCE**
 * Toddi attended April 12 meeting. Jamie organizing response from interest groups.
 * Toddi/Meghan coordinating letter from NC State faculty. This is currently being taken around for signature (by Meghan)
 * Gary signed letter from WakeNature and Hess scanned and sent (19 Apr).
 * All letters should be emailed to the address below.
 * Others???

Public comment will be accepted until May 5th and can be made in three ways: 1) In person, at one of the five public meetings listed under Schedule. 2) By emailing **ParkPlan@RaleighNC.gov** 3) By visiting, reviewing and commenting on the hard copies of the report located at:
 * Durant Nature Park Office** (8305 Camp Durant Rd),
 * Lake Johnson Boat House** (4600 Avent Ferry Rd), or
 * Frank E. Evans Building at Jaycee Park** (2405 Wade Ave.)


 * SCHEDULE**
 * RCAC:** Wednesday, March 16, 2011
 * Introduce Project to PRGAB:** Thursday, March 17, 2011
 * North CAC:** Tuesday, April 7, 2011, Millbrook-Exchange Park, 1905 Spring Forest Road, 7pm
 * Northwest/Umstead CAC:** Tuesday, April 12, 2011, 8016 Glenwood Avenue, 7pm
 * Northeast CAC:** Thursday, April 14, 2011, Marsh Creek Park, 3050 New Hope Road, 7pm
 * West CAC:** Tuesday, April 26, 2011, Powell Drive Center, 740 Powell Drive, 7pm
 * Presentation to PRGAB:** Thursday, April 28, 2011, City Council Chambers, 222 W. Hargett St., 5:30pm


 * Discussion items:**
 * Most issues so far revolve around the "P" word (preserve) and dogs - some concern about restrictions to use and access. We should be prepared with a response to these issues.
 * Proactive statement about access for people - yes, might be some areas we'd rather not have people and dogs trampling.
 * Do we even want to get into mentioning that there's a county-wide leash law?
 * Who will attend Board meeting on Thurs 28 April?
 * Steelman presenting part
 * Hess plans to attend
 * Is there anything else we need to be doing on this?


 * NOTES**
 * Linda Pearsall will attend the West CA meeting on behalf of Natural Heritage (Ramsey)
 * From WNPP, City has ultimate say on this issue. WNPP supports access control where it's needed to protect the resource.
 * Education and tours about sensitive areas to keep out dog walking, geocaching, etc
 * Hess & Bank will attend meeting on 28 April
 * Ramsey suggested to Kirkman that the Environmental Review Board should review and comment

NATURE RESEARCH CENTER PRESENTATION - Meg Lowman. "I need to be in a meeting at Museum on Thursday morning. Can you please apologize to WakeNature on my behalf, and request a raincheck to show them my images of the NRC? Thanks!! With apologies Meg"



**Other Business**

Walnut Creek Festival: Saturday 1 October 10A-2P event at Walnut Creek - hands on invasive plant removal - put together by a whole group of organizations. (Ref Benson Kirkman) - opportunity for participation and increased recognition for WNPP. Followed by a fundraiser at Lake Johnson later in the afternoon.