Transylvania Natural Resources Council – Agenda for February 9, 2018

Presentations: (Beginning at 9:00 a.m.) Sustainable Forestry in WNC. Rob Elliot, Evergreen Packaging and a member of the Stakeholders Forum

Business Meeting (Approximately 10:15 a.m.)

Minutes from January 2017 (forwarded separately)

Future Programs:

March 9^th – Michelle Aldridge, Southern Research Station-Eastern Forest Threat Assessment Center, USFS; Jim Fox, National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center, Climate Change in the Southern Appalachians

April 13^th – RK Young: Short Video “Hometown Habitat”; Deke Arndt:  2017 National Climate Assessment Report to Congress

May 11^th – (field trip) Dave Casey & David Whitmire: Courthouse Cut

September – Wes Knapp, NC Natural Heritage Program, Managing our Significant Natural Areas

October – Subcommittee on Landslide Planning:  Gray Jernigan, Mountain True, and Rick Wooten, NCDEQ

November – Cooperative Extension and the Environment: Bart Renner

New Business:

Resolution in support of continuing AmeriCorps position for Cooperative Extension/River Stewards

Request for public comment, USFS: Dave Casey

River Keeper-Kieran Roe:  Water sampling in Transylvania County

Old Business:

Resubmit Natural Resources Manager position (attached)

Updates from subcommittees, public land managers, and others:

Subcommittee on Significant Natural Areas, management recommendations (Kent, David, Dan, Mark Tooley, Torry Nergart)

Subcommittee on Landslide Planning (Davis W-C, Gray Jernigan, Aaron Bland)

Bart Renner – Update on Hemlock Restoration Initiative (Kent, Jason, Jennifer)

Public Land Managers (for PHF: status of forest management plan)

David Whitmire (Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council) (Stakeholders Forum update)

Others

Announcements:

Next meeting:  March 9, 2018

Natural Resources Specialist

General Definition of Work

Performs complex administrative and field work administering and overseeing the management and conservation of Natural Resources and facilitating other departmental conservation programs. Under the general direction of the County Manager, works independently with interested private land owners who voluntarily seek to participate in Natural Resource management and conservation on their lands, and with public land managers to integrate the management of Natural Resources.

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions

Gathers and prioritizes data relative to commercial activities and economic opportunities related to the management and conservation of Natural Resources.

Participates in and provides liaison among various governmental boards, commissions, councils, other civic groups, and non-profit organizations whose priorities include the management and conservation of Natural Resources.

Assists various civic groups and staff departments in navigating the myriad regulations, mandates, rules and strategic plans of federal, state, regional, and local organizations pertaining to the management and conservation of Natural Resources.

Develops and implements a program of information and assistance to public land managers and private land owners to assist in the management and conservation of Natural Resources.

Works closely with related Staff to ensure consistency, economy of effort, and efficiency in the delivery of programs and supporting policies pertaining to the management and conservation of Natural Resources.

Works closely and in coordination with related Staff, public land managers, volunteer private land owners, and contracting agencies to implement Management and Protection recommendations to protect and, where practical, conserve the Significant Natural Heritage Areas listed in “An Inventory of Natural Areas of Transylvania County, North Carolina (2008)”.

Provides required reports and monthly updates of activities to the County Manager and to the Transylvania Natural Resources Council.

Represents Transylvania County during all public lands planning and management activities.

Researches and pursues grant opportunities on behalf of the County and interested private land owners to increase funding for management and conservation activities.

Assists interested private land owners in understanding, applying for, and gaining conservation easements.

Provides initial technical services to the County relative to water treatment, waste water management, and storm water.

Serves on various boards and committees as necessary.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships  with  voluntary private land  owners,  public land managers, land users, associates,  governmental  officials  and the general public;  thorough knowledge of the theory, principles, practices  and techniques  of Natural Resources management and conservation  in rural areas; general knowledge  of the various  guidelines, codes, ordinances,  and regulations pertaining to Natural Resources management and conservation, erosion, land development, and land and water management; skill in the use of basic engineering surveying equipment; ability to plan, organize and carry out projects effectively; ability to present the results  of research  and  recommendations effectively in oral, written or graphic form; a working knowledge in the application of various chemical pesticides and biological treatments of arboreal infestations. Ability to use word processing and database computer programs including GIS, mapping, and spreadsheets.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree with coursework in conservation, small water systems engineering, biology, or related fields and five years’ experience in Natural Resource management or conservation with experience in program planning and supervision or in environmental education, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Physical Requirements

This work requires the regular exertion of up to 10 pounds of force and the infrequent exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; work regularly requires standing, walking over rough ground, wading in streams and creeks, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel, pushing, pulling, and repetitive motions, frequently requires reaching with hands and arms and occasionally requires sitting, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, tasting or smelling and lifting; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception , color perception, night vision and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using measuring devices, assembly or fabrication of parts within arm’s length, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work requires exposure to environmental conditions; work is generally in a moderately quiet location (e.g. in fields, along stream banks, in forests, and in offices).

Special Requirements

Possession of an appropriate driver’s license valid in the State of North Carolina.