286 Project - Public Information
Students in NC State University's Natural Resources Measurements (NR300) course, taught by George Hess, are working with Wake County Parks, Recreation, and Open Space this spring to evaluate various aspects of the so-called 286 property near Lake Crabtree, Umstead State Park, & the RDU International Airport.
Wake County Parks is currently leasing the 151-acre property from RDU Airport Authority for recreational use, mostly by mountain bikers.
As part of our exploration, you may see or experience the following during February, March, and April 2024:
People in safety vests off-trail on the property - that's us checking things out. The most common time to see us will be Wednesday afternoons.
One or two people flying a small drone within the southern end of the property. They are Federal Aviation Administration-certified drone pilots, operating in cooperation with the FAA to fly safely in RDU airspace. They are flying below the treeline (less than 100feet above the ground) photographing various features on the site for presentation and archival purposes.
Audio recorders locked to trees. These are being use to record frogs and birds for identification.
Cover boards & tins. These are pieces of plywood or currogated tin laying on the grounds in the woods. They are used to inventory reptiles and amphibians. Please don't disturb them.
Trail / game cameras strapped and locked to trees. These are being used to detect medium- and large-sized mammals. Almost all of them are off the trails. One or two are set along the trails so that we can get a good count of how many people are using the trails and whether they are riding or walking. Any pictures of people will remain private to the study.
People in safety vests in the streams on the property. They are measuring physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of Haley's Branch and the tributaries that feed it.
People in safety vests digging holes in the soil. This team is examining the soil conditions on the site.
Our findings will be available through this website in late April / early May.
Please feel free to reach out with questions or concerns. You can ask the people you see doing the work, or you can give me a shout by eMail or phone.
Thanks very much!
George Hess | george_hess@ncsu.edu | 919.515.7437