Meeting+2008+Jan+17

Thurs 2008 Jan 17 8:30-9:30 1214 Jordan Hall, NCSU Campus**
 * Wake County Nature Preserves Meeting

//please add items you'd like to see on the agenda by Tues 15 Jan 5PM//


 * Annotated Agenda Items**

In addition to listing agenda items, please add comments and notes before the meeting so that we can go into the meeting with as much information already absorbed as possible.

Alexander, Blank, Cienek, Connors, Hess, Wallace, Shumate, Sinclair, Snow, Stewart
 * MEETING ATTENDEES**

Sinclair / Alexander leading discussion
 * Brief Review of Study Area Maps** (10 min)

Alexander and Shumate walked us through the Marks Creek Properties. They are recommending that we focus on a 31 Acre tract that is right off Turnipseed Road - it's called the TESC (Triangle East Sportsman's Club) tract and it contains an Exceptional Natural Area (see Nature Preserve Criteria). Stucky has already done some inventory there. Blank has not field lab in his Protected Species class this spring, but some students might be able to work out there for their semester projects. Blank's students might also be able to begin looking at wildlife sampling issues and developing protocol / identifying techniques to use.
 * NOTES**

Connors suggested that some people from the Museum would be willing to help with the inventory. Wallace noted that Jeff Hall is doing a frog call workshop soon, and that there is a CD of frog calls available. Someone noted that volunteers from People for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation might also be willing to help, as well as from Partners in Flight. Kim Shumate agreed to work on a list of volunteer groups that might help.

We discussed the need for an "Inventory timeline " that would detail the appropriate time(s) of year to inventory various species. This timeline could then be used to help figure out when resources are needed and which courses at NCSU might be involved in various aspects of the project. Connors, Sinclair, Wallace agree to form a subgroup to look at this and report by the 7 Feb meeting.

Sinclair leading discussion: To discuss the storage and sharing of data. Before inventories begin on the ground, I think it would be a good idea to create or designate a central database where all of this information can be stored and accessed.
 * Data Storage and Sharing** (15 min)

We will try keeping the information and documents on the Wiki for now. GIS data, however, can not be supported there. But we can link from the wiki to other places. If this doesn't work out, we will revisit.
 * NOTES**

Hess leading discussion: Jamie has talked with Mayor Williams and we have up to a full hour to present our project. The date for this is March 17. We need to discuss what we want to present, who will present it, and how (power point?).
 * Mayors' Council Meeting** (15 min)


 * NOTES** Postponed to 7 Feb meeting, in Jamie's absence.

Hess leading discussion Note from Jamie Ramsey: Define the task for the GIS class this spring -- what the product is we want, what tools to use, etc. Maybe we can put that on the next agenda as well? Kristen and I very generally (in no level of careful analysis) did a quick and dirty look yesterday to get an idea of how large in scope our project may be, and it came out pretty much what we expected -- most in Wake Co and City of Raleigh ownership, but not many in general. We will need to give the GIS class some guidance about how to filter out properties where the SNHA touches a parcel in an insubstantial way.
 * GIS Work** (15 min)

We would like an analysis of all public parks, open space, and greenways (definitions to be determined) in Wake County, regardless of municipality.
 * NOTES**
 * Using Natural Heritage Program data (Sinclair is contact), identify all parks, open space, and greenways that contain Exceptional Natural Areas.
 * Using undetermined data in collaboration with Wildlife Resources Commission (Wallace is contact), identify all parks, open space, and greenways that contain Outstanding Natural Areas.

Additional ideas were also discussed, but not currently considered priorities
 * Data mining at the Museum of Natural Sciences. There are all sorts of species data that need to be moved to a digital format. Doing so would provide additional information for identifying exceptional and outstanding natural areas. Connors is contact.
 * Mapping scenic viewsheds from the roads in the Marks Creek study area would be a very interesting project. Cienek is contact.

Hess will say a few words to encourage people to use this tool. A demo is also possible (time permitting) - please put your name here if you think a demo is a good use of time. Names: Gary Blank
 * WakeNature Wiki** (5 min)

Removed from agenda for lack of interest, need, and time
 * NOTES**


 * New Business**

Deanna Stewart, a graduate student working with Roger Moore in Parks, Rec, & Tourism Mgmt, attended the meeting for the first time. She is interested in the development of stewardship plans and will graduate at the end of 2009.
 * NOTES**

Cienek noted that [|Triangle Land Conservancy] is having a celebration event at Marks Creek and wondered if this group should be involved. "The event I mentioned this morning is one of our 25th Anniversary Outings. The outing will take place on Feb. 23rd from 10:00-2:00, we would love to have any of ya’ll come out. Also if you are interested in volunteering, just let me know. We will have a nature walk at the TESC (the pilot site) and it would be great to have some additional naturalists to help out."

For more information on the event please visit http://www.tlc-nc.org/news/calendar/calendar_newJan08.shtml


 * Reports**

This section is for information-only items to be read before the meeting. If someone wants to discuss any of these issues, please move them to the agenda.

//Status on action items from last meeting//

Chris Snow will talk to Tommy Esquada and Jack Duncan re coordination //Status unknown//

George Hess will talk to April James re hydrology aspects. //Done// I spoke with April about the project, as well as other interests Wake County has in hydrology issues (they are related), and she is quite interested. There's a good possibility that someone(s) in her hydro-modeling class this spring could get involved in some initial work at Mark's Creek. Unfortunately, she teaches during our meetings. Perhaps a few of us can stay and talk with her at 10AM on either the 17th or following meeting? It would be good to show her the maps and such as well as get a clearer idea of what we'd like to do. (George, it might be good to involve Tommy Esqueda/his folks in conversations with the hydrology people. --Jamie)

George Hess will talk to Stacy Nelson & Heather Cheshire re GIS for applying criteria. //Done// Heather and Stacy both agreed in principle that they could find a place for this in their spring courses. Heather has an undergrad course in which the students could benefit from learning to gather the necessary data. Stacy has a graduate course that could benefit from doing analyses. Next step is to work out the details.

George Hess will talk to Chris Moorman and Chris Deperno about wildlife involvement.

George Hess will secure room and arrange parking passes. //Done// See meeting schedule. Let Hess know if you need a parking pass and he will arrange. So far he has a standing order for a pass for Ramsey, Sinclair, Cienek, and Wallace.

Jon Stucky and Chris Snow will talk about graduate student funding //In process// Chris and Jon have worked up an agreement to get the Wendell Falls section done, and the agreement is going through the necessary administrative steps.

Louise Alexander & Kristen Sinclair will create maps of the Mark's Creek study area //Done// We saw them today.