Meeting+2012+Mar+1

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

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Kaytee will be unable to attend, but has left notes. Connors unable to attend.
 * Attendance Notes:**

Steelman (presiding), Hess (notes), Pohlman, Hammerbacher, Salter, Lobsinger, Carr, Perlmutter, Miller

//**Promotion Committee**//
GOAL: Create more public awareness and appreciation of our highest quality natural areas in Wake County. In 2012 we will: 1) develop a website (completed); 2) maintain/update the website (on-going); 3) promote WakeNature through one or more Stewardship Awards; 4) Promote WakeNature by holding a training session for resource managers; 5) Create promotional materials to get the message of WakeNature out to a broader audience; 6) Work on fundraising provided key fundable priorities are identified.

Toddi contacted Cindy Holmes at City of Raleigh about a new Stewardship Award category. She is interested and we have a follow up phone call scheduled for 3/2/12.


 * NOTES**
 * Initial response from Cindy was positive
 * We do want to keep it simple and not have to get involved in the big application process that Raleigh uses right now - Greater Triangle Sustainable Development Award did something like this
 * Wake Soil & Water also does an annual banquet - this would also allow us to improve our relationship with Wake Soil & Water, who are a member of WNPP but haven't been very active

FROM TLC FIREWISE GRANT: •Updated website and wiki site for WakeNature (From Leigh Ann) We can cover website fees for WakeNature and perhaps work to add additional content to the site) Kaytee-- any needs you see here at this time? From Kaytee: "As of right now we are running the "free" version of wordpress. If wanted to upgrade so that we could more elaborate things we would need to pay about $30/year/blog. That would just allow us to customize the site, but would would still need some more detailed graphic design work. I am thinking ballpark to have someone custom some flash will be around $2500 - $5000. We could try to get it at lower cost, pro bono, or work with the design school to have a student. I think anything over $5000 would be too much and not reasonable." From George: "$50/year for the domain name and that's about it." I think it wouldn't hurt to meet with a design firm and see what options we have for the website.


 * NOTES**
 * General feeling that making a fancy website right now doesn't seem a priority - we need to drive traffic to what we have already and promote WNPP

•Interpretive forest and WakeNature Signage- (From Leigh Ann) Can purchase some signs for WakeNature and also look at installing some interpretive signage in managed forest areas This still feels premature to me since we don't have a clear property to target. OR maybe we should start working on what we might want for interpretive signage for Turnipseed. Given that the property is not yet laid out with trails etc... would it be worthwhile to see if there is a class that could tackle this in the fall or is that too premature? Maybe we could redirect this $$ to develop the press kit and do broader promotion to city/county about who we are, what we do and what we can offer?


 * NOTES**
 * At Turnipseed we know the interesting spots and we have enough information to create them
 * County would be interested in having signs made (money has to be spent this year) but might not be able to install them until Turnipseed is open to the public
 * Maybe some on Lake Johnson or another Raleigh greenway / site to build that relationship
 * Really want to do this in places that are already open to the public so signs will be visible
 * Can we work with a class to draft up location for signs, as well sign content
 * Swift Creek Bluffs is another possibility
 * Salter will get sign quotes from signs recently installed in Raleigh
 * Steelman will talk to Leung and C. Smith about having a class work on this Fall 2012
 * Steelman will talk to Leung and C. Smith about having a class work on this Fall 2012

From Kaytee: I also think we should put more emphasis on the press kit. Even if an organization/person may not have a property, they may know of others or be able to provide resources to us and vice verse. I think having "Who we are and this is what we have been doing" letter that goes out to the entities that own or manage some of the properties that Gary P. highlighted based on significant natural heritage areas and element occurrences would be a good start. If we can at least get our branding out there and start dialogue with some of these potential partners we would have time to think about the direction of our website. To me the website should focus more on the features of the different preserves for opens space properties primarily, I think the concept of showcasing the preserves will be a good enticement for the groups to want to get on board and at the same time creating a place where citizens can find out about open spaces and possible volunteer opportunities. I think we can use the website to address all the pillars of our message: protection, engagement and education. Perhaps some of the organizations/groups would be willing to financially contribute.


 * NOTES**
 * Consensus that this is a key priority and needs input from Inventory Committee
 * Maybe a seasonal guide on the website
 * On website, highlight things that are ready for public access, downplay those that are not
 * Hess to follow up with C Smith on interactive map
 * Hess to work with Hammerbacher about paying for website domain for a few years

Websites to use for examples and content:

[] [] [] [] []

•Training session for resource managers- (From Leigh Ann) perhaps look at a session in the fall- perhaps something around management prescriptions - "the recipe book" and organizing volunteers. What do we think would be helpful for the County and other municipalities for a capacity building workshop? If we want to have something to "sell" that makes WakeNature an attractive option, then what would that service be at this time?


 * NOTES**
 * Forest restoration opportunities?
 * Volunteer capacity building
 * Invasive species ID & control
 * Trail building and maintenance
 * Target audience: Stewardship volunteers, staff - maybe do them separately?
 * Should we focus on park managers to make them aware of resources we can provide?
 * Maybe something about inventory? Rapid inventory assessments, ecological communities, etc.
 * Organize bioblitzes?
 * Monitoring rare plants - is there a protocol? NHP has a monitoring form on their website that tells you how to monitor based on characteristics.
 * Assistance creating management plans - use Turnipseed as an example
 * Sensitive management issues, such as deer control and logging as management issues
 * Send list to list server and ask them to rank top three and then we offer a series of 3 workshops to do them - Hess & Steelman will do
 * When we do workshops go for personal, verbal invitations

The Promotion Committee is supposed to work on fundraising, but I don't know what we would raise funds for. What would we need money for? What would we do with it? Ideas?


 * NOTES**
 * Postponed until next month

//**Inventory Committee**//
FROM TLC FIREWISE GRANT: Management Plans and inventories for at least two protected green spaces Swift Creek Bluffs Assemblage and one other - (From LeighAnn) I am going to Propose the West track which is a TLC property in Marks Creek on the Wake Johnston Line- - this is also across the stream from the Wake County Williamson property so could perhaps incorporate this as well - we have some funding for this so it would not all have to be done by WakeNature.

•Resources assessments of forest resources for at least two properties(From Leigh Ann) will be a component of the management plans)

•Template inventory sheets and management plans for Wake County( From Leigh Ann) We can build on existing resources of the management plan)

CVS DATA NOW AVAILABLE (From Gary P.) I met with the CVS people at UNC about last spring's Pulse data at Swift Creek Bluffs and Mitchell's Mill, and have the spreadsheet which contains site data and vascular plant inventory lists from those plots plus earlier ones.


 * NOTES**
 * This sounds like a good possibility for inventory work
 * We've just about finished Swift Creek - need to finish - Blank is working on management plan - will bring all the pieces together - need to know how to wrap up
 * We'll hire someone to do forest community and vegetation, and aquatic community
 * Agreed that we will spend our money to hire a firm to inventory the Beach, West, & Williamson properties along Marks Creek. TLC will let the contract and coordinate the work. WakeNature will supplement for inventory work that's not ordinarily done.
 * Inventory committee will have goals for next meeting.
 * Talk about David's work next month

//**Capacity Committee**//

 * WakeNatureService Raleigh Volunteer Workday, March 24th 2012**

Project Description: The mission of the WakeNature Preserves Partnership(WakeNature) is to organize and provide resources to identify ecologicallyvaluable, publicly owned open spaces within Wake County and to build capacityfor appropriate management and long-term stewardship of those areas. Thevolunteer project for Service Raleigh will be the restoration of WakeNature’sTurnipseed Preserve. The workwill involve removal of refuse from the preserve, improving the site’secological and recreational quality.

Time: 8am – 1pm: approximately 3-4 hours ofwork time

Work Plan: Trash removal locations 1. Top priority a. Cell tower b. Along Turnipseed Road 2. Second priority c. Scenic boulders d. Along the trail thatspans from the Northern field down through the property.

Preparation for Workday:

· Leaders for Service Raleigh workday - Three leaders (anticipating up to 15 volunteers with 5-6volunteers per group - It would be great if leaders are also willingto drive a 11-passenger van or 4-passenger truck. · Tools: - Trash bags - Gloves - Wheelbarrow to carry heavy items (especiallyat the cell tower site) - Shovels for partially buried trash (especiallyat the cell tower site)

FROM TLC FIREWISE GRANT •At least four forest stewardship inventory and service learning days- (FROM Leigh Ann) TLC can work with WakeNature to organize two and then can also take the lead on organizing two.

NOTES
 * Lobsinger will lead groups; Sullivan also
 * Miller has reserved a van and a truck - capacity 17 total including drivers
 * County has gloves and trash bags, some shovels - need more shovels and a couple of wheelbarrows and more gloves
 * Friends of Lake Johnson and People for Parks have a tool trailer we might be able to borrow
 * Miller will talk with Sullivan about equipment
 * Salter will share info about tool trailer with Miller
 * Miller will follow up on towing of tool trailer