Town of Nags Head UpdateAaron McCall, Northeast Regional Steward – January 6, 2010

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Nags Head Woods Preserve

• Visitors• Outreach/Partnership• Multi-Use Accessible Trail• Property• Stewardship

Nags Head Woods Preserve

NHW Registered Visitation

• From July 08 – July 09, over 40 US states and 11 countries represented

• Total registered – 6818; TNC members 794

Comments from visitors: • Never knew so much Maritime Forest was still here, thanks for saving this.

• annual visit – always delightful, as contributing member it is always a pleasure to see TNC in action

• favorite place on OBX

• thank you so much for preserving this wonder!

Outreach/Partnerships

• 9 summer Weekly Interpreter Hikes with 44 total participants

• 16 field trips (Wings over Water, College and school groups, government relations)

• Duke Nonprofit Management held 10 classes for a total 122 students representing 47 organizations

• 5 Aquatic Adventure Camps for children sponsored by NC Aquarium. Total participants was 47 kids.

• Night hikes in October, November and December sponsored by NC Aquarium.

Jockeys Ridge State Park Shoreline project

• Partnership with JRSP, NCCF, DMF

•Volunteer /Education with locals individuals, school groups, college students

•Restoration of marsh to help prevent further erosion

Kill Devil Hills Multi-Use Accessible Trail

Kill Devil Hills Multi-Use Accessible Trail

•Dominion Foundation donation of 100,000•Pending grant for remainder of trail for $84,000 with Dare County Tourism Bureau•Working with local disabled youth and adults to participate in trail opening and maintenance.

NHWs properties

Major Road

contours

nags head woods

Private property

/• Two water/marsh front parcels outlined in blue with 20 acres total

•Working to reach an agreement on price with land owner • Reappraisal on the property

Property for sale in Nags Head Woods

Hunting

•In 2008, 50 hunters registered and a total of 8 deer were harvested.

•In 2009, 53 hunters registered and to date 7deer have been harvested.

•First year for extended Urban Archery Season

Nutria Study and Management

Grant funded for $9000 and includes • Mapping• Education• Removal

Invasive plants removal

A cub scout troop and a college group volunteered to hand-remove:

•weeping love grass •oriental bittersweet •Microstegium

Invasive plant species removal continues to be an active management strategy in NHW

Interns UNC Albemarle Ecological Field Station

•Water quality sampling of the fresh water ponds.

• Baseline work to help resurvey freshwater fish species in Nags Head Woods ponds.

Discussion for FY 2009/2010: NHW’s South End Restoration Project

• Seeking partnerships and grant opportunities

• Management strategies to help stop further erosion:• Shoreline vegetation• Oyster reefs• Submerged aquatic vegetation

Discussion for FY 2009/2010: Yellow House

• Repainted with help from Dominion Power volunteers

• Cleaned out the inside

• Site visit with builder to discuss structural options

Discussion for FY 2009/2010:New sign for Town Trail

Questions