Triangle Land Conservancy Conservation Area Monitoring Report Carolina North Property Name: Bolin Creek West Conservation Area Date of first visit: 3.12.14 County: Orange Date of second visit: 6.5.14 Property Type: Restrictive Covenants Local Contact: Triangle Land Conservancy 919-908-8809 (office) 514 S. Duke St. 919-755-9356 (fax) Durham, NC 27701 Lead conservation area monitor: Matt Rutledge Other person(s) attending inspection: Bo Howes (first visit), Greg Kopsch (Forest Manager) and Alex Ashton (Property Officer) (both at second visit) The Carolina North Property is subject to a Declaration of Restrictive Covenants recorded in Book 5541 page 360 of the Office of the Orange County Register of Deeds. A copy of the Restrictive Covenants may be found at the Register of Deeds office or the link below. http://carolinanorth.unc.edu/portals/carolinanorth/documents/declaration%20of%20restrictive %20Covenants%20-%20Carolina%20North%20Conservation%20Areas%20%20%20.pdf There is a LAND STEWARDSHIP POLICY on file for this property. The Land Stewardship Policy was completed January 15, 2013 and is available at the link below. http://carolinanorth.unc.edu/portals/carolinanorth/documents/carolina%20north%20land%20 Stewardship%20Policy-Final%201-15-13.pdf Problem areas noted from prior visits and areas to pay special attention to: Inert yard debris from neighboring properties, especially along the western boundary of the Conservation Area, was a problem noted in the 2013 monitoring report.
TLC Conservation Area Monitoring Report (Cont.) Are property boundaries clearly marked? Note any new concerns about boundaries and signs of encroachment, and if existing problems have been corrected? Yes. Boundaries clearly marked. No areas of concern. The Restrictive Covenants list eight restricted or prohibited uses and activities. Are there any violations of the following restricted or prohibited uses and activities? A. Construction. Construction or placement of buildings, roads, billboards or other advertising, utilities or other structures on or above the ground is prohibited in the Conservation Areas. Construction or placement of signs is prohibited in the Conservation Areas except for directional and boundary signs, interpretive signs describing the conservation values of the Conservation Areas, and signs and kiosks prescribing rules and regulations for the use of the Conservation Areas. No new construction was observed. B. Dumping and Landfill Activities. Dumping or placing soil or other substances or materials as landfill, or dumping or placing trash, waste or unsightly or offensive materials is prohibited in the Conservation Areas. No dumping or landfill activities were observed. C. Vegetation Destruction. Removal or destruction of healthy native trees, shrubs or other vegetation is prohibited in the Conservation Areas, unless done as a component of an established forest management plan. No vegetation destruction was observed. D. Excavation or Dredging. Excavation, dredging or removal of loam, peat, gravel, soil, rock or other mineral substance in such manner as to affect the surface is prohibited in the Conservation Areas. No excavation or dredging was observed. E. Detrimental Surface Use. Surface use except for forest or outdoor recreational purposes or purposes permitting the land or water area to remain predominantly in its natural condition is prohibited in the Conservation Areas. No detrimental surface use was observed. F. Activities Detrimental to Drainage; Flood Control, etc. Activities detrimental to drainage, flood control, water conservation, erosion control or soil conservation are prohibited in the Conservation Areas. No activities detrimental to drainage, flood control or other listed items were observed. G. Other Detrimental Acts. Other acts or uses detrimental to the retention of land or water areas are prohibited in the Conservation Areas. Based on our observation, the University has been a good steward of the Carolina North property, no detrimental acts were observed during our visits. H. Construction of New Trails and Greenways. Construction of new trails (except for potential greenways and paths that are located and approved pursuant to the terms of the
Development Agreement) is prohibited in the Conservation Areas. No new trails or greenways were observed. Additional comments or observations There were signs of encroachment from properties neighboring along the southern and western boundaries. These boundaries back onto multiple adjoining landowners in a residential neighborhood. One major encroachment is a playset entirely within the conservation area. Behind the same house, a portion of the backyard fence enters the Conservation Area as well. Other encroachment issues were minor consisting mostly of small amounts of trash thrown over the property line. These encroachments are not the fault of the University, but the landowners violating the conservation area should be notified and the encroachments rectified. The University was notified of these issues in early April. The UNC Property Office and the Office of Forest Management worked to resolve the encroachment issues over the course of the spring. TLC agreed to another monitoring visit on June 5, 2014, to check on the status of the encroachments. The monitoring visit on June 5 revealed that all documented encroachments had been removed after action by the University. Photos and a map of the second visit are included at the end of this report. In addition to encroachments, several areas of invasive species were noted in the conservation area. Autumn olive bushes and microstegium are extensive in places along the southern boundary and in the interior as well. The University is not required to remove these species but rather encouraged to do so. This note and the photo documentation are included only to help with identification of problematic areas. In meeting with Greg Kopsch (Forest Manager), he mentioned that outlining areas of invasive species would be helpful in a management context. He also mentioned that an Eagle Scout project is targeting invasive species removal and additional projects and volunteer activities could be part of future management. To the best of your knowledge and observation, is the land owner complying with the restrictive covenants? YES Steward s name: Matt Rutledge Signature: Matthew D. Rutledge Address: 514 S. Duke St. Phone: 919-908-8809 Durham, NC 27701 Indicate attachments to the report. Date and sign all materials. Provide descriptions of photograph and illustration locations. ground photos aerial photos maps illustrations other
Map 1 March 12, 2014 Monitoring Visit
Photo Documentation Table March 12, 2014 Monitoring Visit Photo Point Photo Number Description Azimuth 1 1 Southeastern corner at Seawell School Rd. 300 2 2 Internal corner 150 3 Internal corner 200 3 4 Southeastern corner at Bolin Creek 20 5 Southeastern corner at Bolin Creek 260 4 6 Floodplain along Bolin Creek - 5 7 Old mill site - 6 8 Southeastern corner, west of Bolin Creek 260 7 9 Along southern boundary - 8 10 Encroachment along southern boundary - 11 Encroachment along southern boundary 80 9 12 Internal corner and encroachment 130 13 Internal corner and encroachment 260 10 14 Internal corner on southern boundary 250 15 Internal corner on southern boundary 11 16 Autumn olive along southern boundary - 12 17 Southwestern corner 80 18 Southwestern corner 30 13 19 Interior corner on western boundary 210 20 Interior corner on western boundary 10 14 21 Trash encroachment along boundary - 22 Trash encroachment along boundary - 15 23 Encroachment along western boundary - 24 Encroachment along western boundary - 16 25 Encroachment along western boundary - 17 26 Encroachment along western boundary - 18 27 Encroachment along western boundary - 19 28 Encroachment along western boundary - 20 29 Neighboring property cleared - 21 30 Erosion and sediment from cleared area - 31 Erosion and sediment from cleared area - 32 Erosion and sediment from cleared area - 22 33 Northwest corner 190 34 Northwest corner 120 23 35 Interior corner on north boundary 300 36 Interior corner on north boundary 90 24 37 Northwest corner 270 38 Northwest corner 210 25 39 Interior corner 30 40 Interior corner 120 26 41 Interior corner 300 42 Interior corner 70 27 43 Road maintenance in power easement - 28 44 Northern point on eastern side 240 45 Northern point on eastern side 120 29 46 Northeastern point on Seawell School Rd. 300 47 Northeastern point on Seawell School Rd. 170
Photo #1. Easternmost corner with view northwest upslope and along the boundary. Photo #2. Internal corner 1 with view southeast along boundary. Photo #3. Internal corner 1 with view southwest towards Bolin Creek. Photo #4. Southern corner at Bolin Creek with view northeast.
Photo #5. Southern corner at creek with view west along boundary. Photo #6. Yellow trout lily in bloom in floodplain of creek. Photo #7. Old mill site in the interior of conservation area. Historic site. Photo #8. Back at southern corner near creek with west along boundary that passes behind neighborhood.
Photo #9. Fire pit behind house that is inside conservation area. Photo #10. At southern corner (Photopoint #8), playset inside conservation area. Photo #11. Playset, wheelbarrow, and lawn inside conservation area. Photo #12. Compost bin and playset in conservation area.
Photo #13. Corner (Photopoint #9), shows fencing, and playset inside conservation area. Photo #14. Interior corner with view southeast. Photo #15. Interior corner with view west along line. Photo #16. Large expanse of autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) documented for land manager.
Photo #17. Southwest corner with view east down boundary. Photo #18. Southwest corner with view northeast along line. Photo #19. Interior corner with view southwest along the line. Photo #20. Interior corner with view north along boundary line.
Photo #21. Coil of wire and toilet dumped inside conservation area. Photo #22. Line of pinflags that enter conservation area with unsure purpose. Photo #23. Wooden ladder inside conservation area. Photo #24. Ashes dumped inside conservation area. Large number of dumped ashes.
Photo #25. Broken compost bin clearly just inside conservation area. Photo #26. Plastic planters dumped inside conservation area. Photo #27. Old compost bin that was probably present before the conservation area was created. Photo #28. Plastic lining that is holding runoff behind a house but inside the conservation area.
Photo #29. Adjacent property bordering the northeast of the conservation area has been cleared. Photo #30. Muddy, sediment laden runoff entering conservation area from cleared property. Photo #31. Plastic fencing shows where runoff has overflowed from neighboring property. Photo #32. Drainage pipe from retention pond that has led to the water entering conservation area.
Photo #33. Northwest corner of property with view south along boundary. Photo #34. Northwest corner with view southeast. Photo #35. Internal corner on the northern boundary, with view back northwest. Photo #36. Internal corner on the northern boundary, with view east.
Photo #37. Northeast corner with view back west along line. Photo #38. Northeast corner with view southwest along boundary of conservation area. Photo #39. Internal corner with view northeast. Photo #40. Internal corner with view southeast.
Photo #41. Interior corner with view back northwest. Photo #42. Interior corner with view northeast along the boundary line. Photo #43. Road maintenance and clearing along power easement, permitted under conservation agreement. Photo #44. North corner near Seawell School Rd, with view southwest along boundary.
Photo #45. North point with view towards road. Notice notch cut in tree to allow surveyor site line. Tree is ready to fall. Photo #46. Northeastern point on Seawell School Road with view northwest. Photo #47. Northeastern point on Seawell School Road with view south.
Map 2 June 5, 2014 Monitoring Visit
Photo Documentation Table June 5, 2014 Monitoring Visit Photo Point Photo Number Description Azimuth 1 1 Site of playset encroachment 80 2 Site of playset encroachment 90 2 3 Site of fire pit encroachment - 3 4 Site of trash encroachment - 4 5 Site of ladders encroachment - 5 6 Site of compost bin encroachment - 6 7 Site of trash encroachment - 7 8 Site of compost bin encroachment - 8 9 Site of plastic lining - 9 10 Site of erosion from neighboring parcel -
Photo #1. Former site of playset encroachment, which was located on the bare ground (Photos #10 12 from March visit) Photo #2. View east down property line. Playset is visible outside the Conservation Area. Compost bin has been removed. Photo #3. Site of fire pit inside the Conservation Area. The fire pit has been removed. (Photo #9 from March visit) Photo #4. Site of trash encroachment. Toilet, metal cables, pin flags, and tractor bucket have been removed (Photo #21 from March visit)
Photo #5. Large wooden ladders have been moved outside Conservation Area. (Photo #23 from March visit) Photo #6. Former site of compost bin. (Photo #25 from March visit) Photo #7. Site of plastic planters in Conservation Area. (Photo #26 from March visit) Photo #8. Site of compost bin in Conservation Area. (Photo #27 from March visit)
Photo #9. Site of plastic lining that has been removed. (Photo #28 from March visit) Photo #10. Erosion from neighboring parcel. The neighboring development has repaired the fence and added gravel to reduce runoff and erosion. (Photos #31 32 from March visit)