Meeting+2009+Mar+19

Thursday 2009 Mar 19 8:30-10 1214 Jordan Hall, NCSU Campus
 * Wake County Nature Preserves Meeting**


 * Attendance Notes**

From Leigh Ann: I’m participating in the NC State NRLI program and will be unable to make the second Wake Nature meeting of each month. Also, I often have a meeting in Chatham with conflicts with the first. Please know that TLC supports this project and the work of Wake Nature Partnership. I will try to make the meetings when possible but just let me know if you need any help.

On another note, I really like George’s ideas posted to the site. I think it helps clarify the purpose of the group. I also like the idea of Wake Wonders, its kind of catchy and could be expanded to TLC or other public lands.

Attendance: Jamie Ramsey, Time Lisk, Chris Snow, George Hess, Toddi Steelman, Heather Chesire, Kathryn Reis, Kaytee Holcombe, Gary Blank

George has been invited to put together a book chapter on service-learning and would like to have collaboration with other members of Wake Nature and will put outline together and share with other members. Needs to have Draft in October and finalized after that.

Jamie Noted: People seem really excited about the "recipe book" would be a great opportunity for service-learning, students could take parts of the management plan and bring back to the table. Gary noted that could possibly work with his endangered species class and would fit with the dynamic of the class (put on agenda for next meeting, April 2 ).

Discussion of George's proposed concept and name change

Notes: Things that have surfaced in discussion: George felt he was re-branding idea; go to existing parks with strong natural heritage value and manage those areas. Idea that people are thinking of nature preserves with no active recreation. Focus on existing properties, need to integrate into that areas. Doesn't feel it is a either/or situation and need to clarify as a team.

Jamie: Likes the name Wake Wonders, feels it is catchy. It is useful to look at
 * existing use parks
 * new unplanned and undeveloped parks
 * new parks that have been planned but not developed

Didn't consider "nature preserve" for parks that have active recreation and conceived in traditional way. Similar to Charlotte-Mecklenburg is more traditional, has park that sits adjacent to nature preserves and has active recreation. Similar to Hemlock Bluff is nature preserve, but has active recreation park near it.

For example, Anderson Point Park, needs to have people use and educate people about the park.

Gary: The meadow will not be there at Anderson Point Park without people, but would not be considered a natural area, like a grassland. Whats natural and whats not? Will not be present with out management. What is our role in moving forward? Harris research track on private land that is open to the public and could have natural wonder designation; could go beyond open spaces that are owned by municipalities. Is this a name that we come up with or push as a community as a whole?

Jamie: Need to identify if meets criteria for nature preserve and management at all of these areas regardless of habitat. Likes the ideas of a wake wonder and enhancing the ideas. Needs to have consistency. Need to have Charolotte-Mecklenberg visit us or meet them and look at model carries a lot of other benefits through public awareness.

Toddi: 1. Might have occurrence inside a park that has a natural wonder and active recreation, but would not be a nature preserve. 2. Might have parks that are designated "Nature Preserves" that also have natural wonders inside them. If group disappears and if the designation becomes embodied in a statute at county or municipal level will be a lot more likely to linger beyond us.

Chris S.: Harris Lake did not have long leaf areas, decided to have as a management prescription. Created natural wonder in the park through management and creation. The boundaries plan significant role. Blue Jay Point is heavily managed, other acres are natural.

George: Need to have standards. Use state legislation of a natural area and manage according to criteria.

Toddi: Proposal to change the May 21 workshop to a field trip to Mecklenberg county. Would need to provide transportation on our part and bring own lunch. Contact Mecklenberg and see what they would be willing to offer.

Jamie: Had several stops, look at Piedmont prairie, body of water, and environmental education, could be around for 3 hours. Kaytee will contact mecklenberg county and see if this would be possible.

George: Need to be careful for criteria; because we can create nature preserves.

Jamie: Does "wake natural/wonders" dilute our mission? If municipality, why would I call it a nature preserve when we can put our ball field and put our wake wonder. Horseshoe Farms limited access, natural heritage area, optimal for wildlife viewing, environmental ed. and so on. They wanted to put in a gymnasium and ball field. In these are incompatible use, and the most sensitive user that is affected.

Toddi: Great opportunity to discuss with Charlotte-Mecklenberg and see how they would approach this type of scenario. Discretion is necessary because these different types of park fit the category, but now to maintain consistency.

George: How do we take it forward? Need to have more conversation within the group.

Summary:


 * This is what we think a nature preserve is and when and where these labels would apply
 * The politics of if you have both, and that plays out.
 * When should it be discretionary
 * Will dicuss in more detail at next meeting

We cannot use Hemlock Bluffs in May - other ideas? Does Garner or Apex wish to host? Is that a good idea?

Notes:

Workshop is set for Thursday May 21;

In May, have the workshop cover GIS and Aerial Photo interpretation at Blue Jay Point from 9:00 - 12:00pm

In the fall, Gary can go over the Marks Creek management plan workshop on Thursday, September 17 at Marks Creek (date not set).

Volunteer hours-- bring your sheets in to help us log the hours.

What to do about the Winstead photos?

[|//__http://152.1.132.54/~roger/cnrmagwinter/park/index.html__//]

We have to be careful about posting them, because they are someone else's - suggest we'd need to ask permission to use.

Please see the forwarded email and attachments from Ed Johnson in Garner concerning White Deer Park. The parcel numbers for this park are: #1700-12, 1710-13, 1619-01. These are for the 200 hundred acres including Lake Benson Park and White Deer Park. They're right across the street from each other as you will see in the attached maps. The park is currently under construction and should be completed in the fall. Ed is not aware if the park contains an SNHA or EO. At our last meeting we discussed setting up a time for a site visit at the park with Ed. He is available the following dates for this visit: April 6-9 or April 13-14. He can meet anytime on these dates. I'd like to put this on our agenda for this Thursday and confirm a site visit date with Ed.

Note: John, Jamie, Chris (?) and Jacquelyn on the morning April 9 and April 14 to set up site visit at White Deer Park in Garner. Contacted Marty Wiggins, thought use to be a small fruit farm and a lot of invasive species.

Heather saw element occurrence at Swift Creek.