Mark’s Creek Rural Lands Initiative Update:
Conservation tops 1,000 acres amid swirl of other activities

In late 2007 and early 2008 the Mark’s Creek partners purchased two tracts, bringing the total land conserved in the area to just over 1,000 acres on 12 tracts.

The late 2007 land—about 112 acres—was purchased from LCL, LLC. The land lies about a quarter mile east of the previously purchased Margaret Williamson tract; the partners hope to “fill the gap” by conserving the land between the two tracts.

The early 2008 land—about 50 acres—was purchased from L.C. Medlin, Jr. This land is adjacent (to the east) to the Gin Creek Wetlands assemblage off Turnipseed Road, with extensive frontage on Sandy Branch, a Mark’s Creek tributary. The Gin Creek Wetlands assemblage is now about 230 acres.

The Mark’s Creek area is becoming the focus for more than conservation.

In the fall, an NCSU plant biology class used the Gin Creek Wetlands for field study. During their work, they discovered the rare plant Michaux’s Sumac (Rhus michauxii).

The Gin Creek Wetlands has also been chosen as the pilot site for the Wake Nature Preserves Partnership. This is a group of natural resources professionals and academics focused on the identification and long-term stewardship of important natural areas in the county.

To date, the group has organized two sites visits, and the site will be the focus of several NC State class projects next year.

The overall goal is to incorporate service learning with NC State to create a management plan for the Gin Creek Wetlands that can serve as a model for other open space properties. For more information about the partnership, go to http://wakenature.wikispaces.com.

Finally, TLC’s hiring of Leigh Ann Cienek as conservation planner has jump-started a review of the 2001 Mark’s Creek Conservation Assessment. Working with a committee of local residents and landowners, Cienek has already started preparing an application for a NC Scenic Byway designation for the area.

For more information about any Mark’s Creek activities, contact Leigh Ann Cienek at lcienek at tlc-nc dot org.

Copyright © 2006-2008, Triangle Land Conservancy Last updated on 05/08/2008.