Meeting+2008+Jan+3

Thursday 2008 Jan 3 8:30-9:30 1214 Jordan Hall (new wing), NC State University**
 * Wake County Nature Preserves Meeting


 * Agenda Items**

//**Attended by**// George Hess :: JJ Scott :: Kim Shumate :: Louise Alexander :: Jim Stucky :: Gary Blank Jacquelyn Wallace :: Chris Snow :: Kristen Sinclair :: Leigh Ann Cienek :: Jamie Ramsey

1**. Nature Preserves Criteria name change?**

Should we change the name of our criteria to "Wake County Natural Areas Overlays?"

In a meeting with Frank Cope, Director of Wake County Community Services, the term "overlays" came up when discussing our concept. This is a term used commonly by planners to use more than one set of criteria to classify places and apply special conditions. We might consider using the term "Wake County Natural Areas Overlays" for our criteria.

//**NOTES**//: We decided NOT to change the name. We will continue to use "Wake County Nature Preserves"


 * 2. Pilot study area change?**

Should we change our pilot study area to Wendell Falls/Lake Myra Park in Mark's Creek?

During this same meeting, we learned that there is an approx. 160 acre area along Lake Myra and the stream that feeds it in eastern Wake County. Wake County will be developing a master plan for Wendell Falls Park, including a management plan, within a year. This park land is adjacent to a new 4,000-home subdivision and school site being built just west of Wendell - it's called Wendell Falls. It takes about 35 minutes to reach the site from campus - straight out MLK Blvd and then Poole Road.

Lake Myra also has historical significance as a recreation area and there is the potential to tie a history project into this as well.

http://www.newsobserver.com/674/story/522757.html

//**NOTES:**// We decided that we WILL change our pilot area to Marks Creek, but that the assessment of Lake Myra / Wendell Falls Park will be handled outside of our groups efforts because of the short timeline for that. The management plan for Lake Myra / Wendell Falls Park is already under contract with Susan Hatchell and is expected to be complete in Sept 2008. Some members of our group will work with Chris Snow to help with this, but the service-learning aspects will focus on Marks Creek properties downstream of Lake Myra. We noted many opportunities for study of hydrology and the effect of development on those properties.


 * 3. NCSU course connections**

Review of potential course connections. Can we get a firm list of tasks for spring semester courses?

Spring 2008 George is working with Heather Cheshire and Stacy Nelson to get a GIS course to work on applying the criteria county-wide. Gary Blank might be able to do something with his Endangered Species class.
 * //NOTES://**

Fall 2008 Jon Stucky's Wetland Flora class to begin floristic inventory


 * 4. Action item review**

Chris Snow will talk to Tommy Esquada and Jack Duncan re coordination
 * //NOTES://**

George Hess will talk to April James re hydrology aspects; Stacy Nelson & Heather Cheshire re GIS for applying criteria; Chris Moorman and Chris Deperno about wildlife involvement. George Hess will secure room and arrange parking passes.

Jon Stucky and Chris Snow will talk about graduate student funding

Louise Alexander & Kristen Sinclair will create maps of the Mark's Creek study area


 * 5. Next meeting**

Propose establishing a regular meeting schedule instead of planning them ad-hoc.

Does the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month 8:30-10 (expecting to end by 9:30) work for everyone?

Do we want to rotate the location? Keep meeting at NCSU? Select another location?

//**NOTES:**// We agreed to 1st and 3rd Thursdays at NCSU for the foreseeable future. George will organize the room and parking passes.