Meeting+2011+Mar+3

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

**Attendance Notes**

Perlmutter out - dentist appt. (won't get his coffee mug again) Blank teaching

Attending: Bockhahn, Pohlman, Sullivan, Lobsinger, Ramsey, C.Smith, Hess (notes), Steelman (presiding), Snow, Blank

**Introductions as needed**


 * Colleen Bockhahn to report on Wake County database**.


 * Notes**
 * Wake Co Parks & Rec worked with NC State Parks to get a database for natural resource information
 * Will be open to staff for data input 15 March
 * Target date for "live to public" is 18 August
 * Spreadsheet template will be available - will bring to next WNPP meeting (17 March)
 * Hess' class working on Rust Property will provide data
 * Need as much new information as possible
 * Photos can be included


 * Carolina Vegetation Survey comes to the Triangle.** The CVS ([]) will be conducting Pulses in the outer Triangle area this June. I spoke with Forbes Boyle, Research Assoc. w/ the UNC Biology Dept about sampling Turnipseed, and he's very excited about adding it to the list of sites. Other sites he's considering for Pulse sampling include Swift Creek Bluffs and Hemlock Bluffs. I invited Forbes to a WakeNature meeting; he's hoping to attend the March 17 meeting to discuss this further. -Gary P.


 * Notes**
 * Gary P unavailable to report
 * Hess reported what he know about CVS
 * Further reporting next meeting
 * Action item: None yet, but likely to make this a WNPP event with volunteers


 * New Lichen species officially described from Turnipseed.** I posted this with links on the homepage under News. -Gary P.


 * Notes**
 * Gary P not available to report
 * Reviewed page describing lichen - very cool!!


 * Report on Raleigh Nature Preserves Task Force**. George/Toddi


 * Notes**
 * Hess / Steelman reported on current status
 * Report to WNPP ASAP
 * Should we get language in the report to recommend some of the parks for submission as WNPs? Discussion - this is beyond scope of subcommittee


 * Report on Lake Johnson Community Facility Meeting**. Toddi


 * Notes**
 * Lots of good discussion at the meeting
 * Seemed like the pool site and the dam site became the focus of most discussion; Magnolia cottage site seemed not to be favored. Overall trending seemed to be toward advocating for the dam site.
 * WNPP will send a letter to the Raleigh Parks stating our support of the dam site
 * Use of the dam site will have to go through County Commissioners as well, because the County helped by the site in exchange for a promise that it will have to remain in open space in perpetuity. This means that the promise will have to be nullified, which requires County Commissioners to act. This is a much larger issue that has been raised by many open space groups - what does "perpetuity" really mean?


 * Lake Raleigh Woods Advisory Panel** has been named and will convene later in March. At that time Gary B. will suggest eventual application for Wake Nature Preserve designation. Meanwhile discussion of the draft general management plan for LRW by the Physical Environment Committee occurs this afternoon (3 March at 3:30 in Winslow Hall Conference Room).


 * Notes**
 * Notion of LRW being a WNP is still under discussion
 * Still need list of features that qualifies LRW as a WakeNature Preserve


 * Potential service-learning project for Fall 2011:** Blank has offered that his Environmental Impact graduate class could create a management plan for one of the properties this fall. Last fall they did so for Lake Raleigh Hardwoods, and that seems to have worked well. Blank and Hess talked about this and thought it might be good to do the combination Swift Creek Bluffs (TLC) / Futrell Tract (Wake County) / DOT mitigation land along Swift Creek, as these are priority targets for WNP status. Thoughts?


 * Notes**
 * Needs to be run by Triangle Land Conservancy
 * Snow says Wake County is OK with that

Hi folks
 * DISCOVER LIFE REQUEST**

I hope you are well and enjoying the burgeoning spring weather! I'm writing to invite you to join us in a fun little spring project - collecting some phenology data for a few weeks this spring, on moths, plants and a few other groups. Looking for something interesting to do with your weekends? Invite your friends and colleagues - the more, the merrier (and bigger n).

Our NSF proposal is still pending. Nevertheless, we propose to test our research protocols and collect preliminary data across our network this spring. We hope that you and your colleagues will join us to photograph and study the phenology of moths, plants and other groups.

Our goal is to collect and analyze data from 100 field stations and other sites. These data will enable us to build site-specific guides and, collectively, to refine our study design. We expect participating sites to collect standardized data during nature walks and at lights at night. Ideally, participants will repeat these two 2-hour protocols each week for four weeks, a total commitment of 20 hours per site over the course of a month. Discover Life will provide technical support for data upload, documentation, and identification. Please see @http://www.discoverlife.org/macrosystems for details.

Let me know if you are interested and we will set up albums for you or your colleagues. We would be very happy to have whatever data you can get us. Thanks!

Cheers, Nancy


 * Notes**
 * Who is interested in doing this?
 * County will support, esp if NSF funding comes through - Snow, Lobsinger, Sullivan will participate
 * Snow will follow up with Nancy


 * Any other business?**
 * C Smith - has two groups working on park planning for Turnipseed and will work with Lobsinger and Sullivan to coordinate