Nags Head Woods Preserve 2017-2018 ANNUAL REPORT TOWN OF KILL DEVIL H I L L S Aaron McCall, Northeast Regional Steward September 2018
Staff Pictured from left: Jennifer Gilbreath, Conservation Coordinator, Lora Eddy, Coastal Engagement Coordinator, Aaron McCall, Northeast Regional Steward; Eric Soderholm, Albemarle-Pamlico Restoration Specialist; Brian Boutin, Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds Director. Photo Kelly Hoeltzel/TNC
Visitor Services Outreach and Community Conservation, Restoration and Biology Beyond Nags Head Woods
Visitor Services Visitor services continue to be an important component of Nags Head Woods management. Dare County Sherriff s Office Camp SALT Photo Credit Camp SALT Aaron speaking to Camden County 5 th Graders Photo Credit Jennifer Gilbreath/TNC
Visitor Services The Center and Discovery Trails
Visitor Services ADA Trail
Visitor Services Parking Area Renovations Received a grant to match TNC funds from the Outer Banks Community Foundation Parking Area Improvements construction. Photo credit Jennifer Gilbreath/TNC Parking Area Improvements construction. Photo credit Jennifer Gilbreath/TNC
New pavement, striping and ADA parking complete Native plant restoration at parking area Native plant restoration, water retention area, staff parking, solar parking lights at site of old lift station Monarch caterpillars on restored Marsh Milkweed at parking area. All photos Jennifer Gilbreath and Reilly Kelly/TNC
Outreach and Community Hard Working Spring Breakers Photo Credit ASU Over 20 guided hikes and presentations were offered to the public in Nags Head Woods over the summer months. Nags Head woods took part in multiple community events interacting with over 500 participants. The Sea2Sound program has become an important component of the 5 th grade science curriculum as it provides hands-on science activities and a review of science principles learned throughout the year. TNC will sponsor FFES and NHES 5 th graders this year. Summer Intern Reilly Kelly leads a Guided Hike summer outreach program. Photo Credit Jennifer Gilbreath/TNC Almost 70 volunteers worked over 1800 hours in Nags Head Woods during the 2017 calendar year.
Outreach and Community Everyone Helped His Neighbor Re-Issue Cover Art by Ester Beacham, Authors are Lu Ann Jones and Amy Glass. Photo Credit: TNC You are most cordially invited to attend the author signing event on September 27 th. We will be playing audio clips of the interviews and look forward to a successful sharing of the excitement around this piece of Outer Banks history.
Outreach and Community Races in Nags Head Woods Nags Head Woods 5k May 2018 Photo Credit Jennifer Gilbreath/TNC
Conservation, Restoration and Biology Duckweed Firetail Darter Damselfly Photo Credit Dr. Mark Shields Japanese Stilt Grass Along Road Photo Credit Aaron McCall/TNC The first occurrence of the uncommon Duckweed Firetail Darter Damselfly was documented at Nags Head Woods for the first time in July 2018 by Dr. Mark Shields. Pollinator-friendly NC native plant restoration continues at the entrance to the Preserve and in cooperation with Dominion Power along the powerline Right of Way. Framingham University in Massachusetts turtle age and density study is in the review process and will be published soon in a scientific journal. Invasive plant control is ongoing and likely continuous for species like Russian Olive, English Ivy and Japanese Stilt Grass. Methods include pulling, cutting, and herbicide application.
Conservation, Restoration and Biology Controlled Burn Photo credit Aaron McCall/TNC Approximately 12 acres was burned in the preserve in June the first summer time controlled burn. Done under a contract with NC Forest Service. Ohio State University 2018 Spring Break Student Volunteers Prepare Fire Breaks Photo credit Jennifer Gilbreath/TNC
Conservation, Restoration and Biology Deer Management Since 1995 we have coordinated with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to manage the Nags Head Woods deer population through a registered bow hunt. Hunters are required to have a current North Carolina hunt permit, attend an orientation session at Nags Head Woods, complete registration forms including vehicle information, pay a $50 fee and agree to display a registration card in their vehicle while hunting. Last year s regular bow hunt season ran from September 2017 to January 1, 2018, with an extended Deer Hunt Season which closed in February 2018. A total of 30 hunters signed up for the 2017-2018 season, with a total of 1 deer harvested. Nags Head Woods Preserve manages the deer population to alleviate nutritional stress and lessen the probability of further declines in deer herd health.
Beyond Nags Head Woods Currently TNC manages 58,243 acres in Northeastern NC including Nags Head Woods Preserve. Many acres are in Conservation Easements which require annual monitoring and documentation. Contracts and phase one funding are in place to restore floodplain connectivity and fish passage at the 7,000+ acre Big Swash TNC Conservation Easement along the Roanoke River in Bertie County. This year we completed or are in process of installing 1,000 linear feet of oyster reef at three sites in Northeastern NC: The Coastal Studies Institute off Roanoke Island, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge off Dare County Mainland, and Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge off Carteret County Mainland. We work with local and regional governments on coastal resilience and planning tools for flooding events. In the Town of Swansboro, we are currently working with NC Sea Grant and Division of Coastal Management to model integration of our resilience planning tools that can be incorporated into their Land Use Plan. In Currituck County we worked to leverage the Community Rating System (CRS) Explorer App and identified an additional 500 open space protection points for their upcoming FEMA CRS application. We work to restore drained pocosin and swamp forest wetlands on the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula, developing new tools and connecting public and private landowners with funding sources to help achieve future restoration. Staff have begun engaging with agricultural partners to expand our work to projects that are mutually beneficial to the region s working and natural lands alike and critical to the sustainability of these inland communities.
We are very grateful for the Town of Kill Devil Hills support both this year and in past years!