Meeting+2011+Mar+17

Thursday 8:30-10 **3213 Jordan Hall**, NCSU Campus
 * Wake County Nature Preserves Meeting**

**Attendance Notes** Steelman (Presiding), Lobsinger, C.Smith, Sullivan, Ramsey, Meg Lowman (Director, Nature Resource Center), Michael Brown, Hess (notes), Perlmutter, Forbes Boyle (Carolina Vegetation Survey), Connors, Cienek-Hammerbacher

**Introductions as needed**

Report back on what we know about the current mussel populations in Marks Creek. If we wanted to do reintroduction, what would that look like?
 * Mussel Update** -- Jay Levine


 * NOTES**
 * Jay has been making inquiries about mussels in the Marks Creek area and has been compiling the info
 * Marks Creek listed as "good to fair" water quality by state for the last 15 years - system has been relatively stable
 * A consultant for Johnston County has identified Asian Clams (exotic, invasive) in Marks Creek
 * Five species predominate, and they are fairly common - no mussels of conservation concern
 * Least Brook Lamprey (fish) found - this is a species of conservation concern - imperiled in NC @http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/factsheets/11250.pdf
 * We should be involved in the development of the bridge from the perspective of natural resource protection - bridges are better than culverts, for example - DOT has wildlife-friendly bridge designs available -
 * Hammerbacher suggested drafting a letter to DOT stating our preferences in terms of bridge construction
 * DOT has to do an environmental assessment by law, so this will provide current inventory data

From An Inventory of Significant Natural Areas in Wake County, North Carolina [|WakeCountySNHAs2003.pdf] //﻿// "Marks Creek Floodplain. Much of the site consists of beaver ponds, and a portion has been dammed to form Lake Myra. The State Special Concern least brook lamprey (Lampetra aepyptera) has been found in Marks Creek. The Federal and State Endangered Michaux’s sumac (Rhus michauxii) occurs within this site, and a series of Granitic Flatrocks have been found within the more upland portions. Part of this site is owned by Wake County; the rest is privately owned."


 * Meg Lowman, Director, Nature Research Center** (Gary P. facilitating)


 * NOTES**
 * Meg is a canopy biologist
 * Builds canopy walkways, mostly in the tropics, for outreach and economic development; has built one in Florida that tripled visitation at the park
 * Canopy walk is being considered at Prairie Ridge; grants are pending (Note: Prairie Ridge could be a WNP)
 * Earth Observation & Biodiversity is one of the 4 main elements of the Nature Research Center - this could become a resource for WakeNature's work - they will be looking for places to study
 * Meg asked if WNP was also trying to consolidate NR education efforts


 * Carolina Vegetation Survey** - Forbes Boyle (Gary P. facilitating)

Hi George Forbes Boyle here, project manager of the Carolina Vegetation Survey (CVS). Gary Perlmutter (cc’d here) gave me your contact and WakeNature Preserves information last week, and he thought it would be a good idea for me to attend an upcoming meeting in order to spread the word about the CVSs’ upcoming June 2011 sampling event (~Pulse). Here’s a link to our website: __ [] __

Gary also thought the Nature Preserves group might be able to provide a valuable resource in terms of selecting sites to sample on.

Currently, I am available to attend next Thursday’s meeting (17 March); I could also attend the 21 April meeting if next week is not available.

Let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best, Forbes


 * NOTES**
 * Forbes gave a brief presentation about the Carolina Vegetation survey
 * Has been active since 1988 as a consortium of academics and resource managers: Mostly Peet (UNC-CH), Wentworth (NCSU), Weakley (NC Botanical Garden), Schafale (NC Natural Heritage), Boyle (UNC-CH), Lee (UNC-CH)
 * Mission is to document and monitor vegetation in the Carolinas, for the long term; revise and document National Vegetation Classification
 * "Natural lands" used as targets for recreation
 * Creating a publicly-accessible database
 * @http://cvs.bio.unc.edu
 * This summer there will be a Triangle sampling event in 4-11 June @http://cvs.bio.unc.edu/pulse/Pulse2011A.pdf
 * Looking for about 75 sites for the Triangle event in June; already know about all the Heritage sites, so are looking for sites that are not in the Heritage list
 * Schafale & Boyle do most of the site selection based on what they know (esp Natural Heritage data) and sites they learn about from other organizations
 * Turnipseed interests them because of the good examples of natural vegetation and specific communities present on the site
 * Special note: Only need two qualified people to do a plot; rest can help and learn
 * If we know of any sites that might be appropriate, send to mboyleATunc.edu - send name of site and, if possible, PDF maps, community type (as detailed as you have, even if not very), landowner contact info
 * Coordinating with media for an event at Turnipseed would be appropriate and valuable

**Raleigh Nature Preserves Task Force** -- Toddi leading

[|Nature Preserves Task Force Report PRGAB DRFT 2011 March 15.doc]


 * Presentation to Park Board 3/17-- read through, prelim questions (Steelman will attend)
 * 3 Citizen Advisory Committees (CAC) (NorthEast, North, West) meetings in interim near places where Nature Preserves identified
 * April 28th meeting for approval/vote
 * Need to get presentation together.


 * NOTES**
 * Steelman has proposed to Shouse that Raleigh Parks create the presentation and we will help as needed


 * Swift Creek Update** - TLC - Leigh Ann Cienek-Hammerbacher


 * NOTES**
 * Very excited about possibility of Gary Blank working on this site with his class next semester.
 * Need to compile all the inventories
 * We should pick a WNPP meeting time (8:30-10) to visit Swift Creek Bluffs - 21 April with 5 May backup - LeighAnn will check into timing