memorandum

to:                  Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager

from:            Butch Kisiah, Parks and Recreation Director

subject: Response to a Petition Regarding Maintenance Activities at Merritt Pasture

date:            September 8, 2008

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to present an update on maintenance activities at Merritt Pasture in response to a Council Member’s petition.

BACKGROUND

The Town purchased the Merritt Pasture in 1991 for $400,000, using the proceeds of the 1989 Parks bond.

On April 26, 1999, the Council charged the Greenways and Parks & Recreation Commissions to investigate potential access to the Merritt Pasture and other issues. The Commissions created a Committee consisting of members of both Commissions, nearby residents, and citizens at large. The Merritt Pasture Access Committee finalized its Report in August 2000. The Report recommended that a permanent access be developed from the west and that a vegetation management plan be adopted.

On January 24, 2002 the Committee met with representatives of the UNC Botanical Garden and voted unanimously to support adoption of a revised vegetation and maintenance plan that is based on zone management of the pasture. The recommendations of the Committee are consistent with the attached revised Merritt Pasture Vegetation and Maintenance Management Plan (attachment 1).

DISCUSSION

Description of the Property: The Merritt Pasture is a 30-acre parcel bounded to the south by Morgan Creek, to the west by the Duke Energy sub-station and Highway 15-501, to the north by homes that front on Winter Drive, and to the east by homes that front on Morgan Creek Road. The property is predominantly cleared and large portions are occasionally mowed. Some mature trees are found on the property, predominantly along Morgan Creek and at the rear of the lots that face Morgan Creek Road.  Currently, the Landscape Services and Park Maintenance Division of the Parks and Recreation Department provides maintenance and upkeep of the property.  The pasture has received the following maintenance since January of 2007.

• Jan. 2007:  Zone 6 - Reinstalled green metal stakes on perimeter to identify and assure that trees regenerate in this area.
• Feb. 2007:  Zone 3 – Protected milkweed areas mowed as prescribed in the maintenance plan
• March 2007: Zone 4 – Accessible areas bush hogged.
• June 2007:  Zone 2 – Pasture mowed for hay. No second mowing due to drought.
• Jan. 2008: Zone 3 – Protected milkweed areas mowed as prescribed in the maintenance plan.
• June 2008: Zone 2 – Pasture mowed for hay.
• August 2008:  Zone 4 – Accessible areas bush hogged.

While this level of maintenance activity generally meets the current maintenance plan, when combined with the drought conditions of 2007 and early 2008 the pasture area appears to be in less than favorable condition. With the recent rains, the overall health of the pasture is improving, but increasing evidence of fast growing invasive plant species merits concern.

RECOMMENDATION

Based on the needs of the pasture area and the public interest in the property, the following action steps are recommended:

1. That the Parks and Recreation Department undertake additional study and consult with representatives from the North Carolina Botanical Garden to determine supplemental “best management practices” for the care of the pasture area that will enhance the potential for the growth of native species, and specifically enhance the growth of the milkweed plants in their designated areas.
2. That the Parks and Recreation Department re-examine the Merritt Pasture Vegetation and Maintenance Management Plan and determine if there are opportunities for improvement.  Suggestions include undertaking a wildflower seeding pilot project and improving the views of Morgan Creek from the established OWASA access trail by limbing up trees and selectively thinning undergrowth.

ATTTACHMENTS

1. Map [91 KB pdf] (p. 3).
2. Vegetation and Maintenance Plan (p. 4).