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1)
ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A COVERBOARD PROJECT UNDER THIS
PROGRAM
a) The Boards And Their Placement
A Coverboard Project will consist of 20 or more
pieces of plywood, particle board, or other approved material,
placed systematically within one or more natural habitat
types. Each coverboard should be 2' by 2' in size, or larger.
The boards must remain in generally good condition. Boards for
the project will be placed in one or more transects within one
or more identified habitat types. After placement each board
should be numbered (spray paint) and remain in the location
in which it was placed. A tree near each board should also be
flagged. Flagging near each coverboard's location will allow
the board's to be located more easily when checking for amphibians
and reptiles. A board's exact location may be determined
through GIS procedures.
b) Maintenance Of The Boards And The Project
Each approved Coverboard Project will have a designated “Project
Manager” who will be responsible for establishment, routine
inspections, and maintenance of the project materials, data
collection/reporting, and any educational activities. All the
established coverboards in a CRCCP Coverboard Project should
be inspected by the Project Manager at least seasonally. During
inspections any boards that have been moved from their original
location should be relocated. Boards that have been damaged,
are rotted, or that are missing, should be replaced.
2) DATA AQUISITION FROM
CRCCP COVERBOARD PROJECTS
Data will be recorded by approved observers including the Project
Manager, members of the CRCCP, teachers and other qualified
individuals as determined by the Project Manager. Data should
be obtained by these observers carefully turning (checking)
each board within the project and recording all animals that
they are qualified to identify. In the case of teachers, they
may wish to make pre-arrangements for a qualified observer to
accompany them, as needed. The Project Manager will see that
data are collected seasonally, or more frequently.
Observers that plan to check a coverboard project
should contact the Project Manager well ahead of time and arrange
to obtain copies of data sheets, other observation and reporting
items, and to check on any up-to-date information about the
status of the coverboards.
Observers will be expected to check all the boards
within the coverboard project, and to fill out and return the
data sheet to the project manager within 48 hrs of completing
their field observations. The Project Manager will semi-annually
(or more frequently) submit copies of all such data to the appropriate
“Program Coordinator” (NC or SC – as listed
on the Application form).
3) POTENTIAL LOCATIONS
OF CRCCP COVERBOARD PROJECTS
Approved Coverboard Projects will be located on lands that are
generally available to the public, or to educational institutions,
within the Catawba River Corridor between Lake Norman in NC,
downstream to Lake Wateree in SC. These would include, but not
be limited to, county, city, and state parks, greenways, and
certain private lands.
Approved project locations will :
a) have some extensive areas of natural habitats,
b) have a site manager or ranger that can serve as the "project
manager",
c) have a way to insure that the coverboards are checked seasonally,
or more frequently,
and data reported to the appropriate Program Coordinator semiannually,
and
d) will commit to maintaining the coverboard project for at
least 3 years.
4) APPLYING FOR A CRCCP
COVERBOARD PROJECT
Applicants will complete a provided application form that confirms
that the site, its habitats, and its management meet the requirements
listed under No 3 above. The application will identify the proposed
"project manager". Applications will be submitted
to the appropriate “Program Coordinator” (for NC
or SC) as listed on the application form. |
