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HomeMy WebLinkAbout213-16 RESOLUTION{ X:fAtfr,r,
113 West Mountain Street
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 575-8323
Resolution: 213-16
File Number: 2016-0556
GROUND -CHERRY CREEK:
A RESOLUTION TO NAME THE UNNAMED TRIBUTARY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF KESSLER
MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK "GROUND -CHERRY CREEK"
WHEREAS, the Watershed Conservation Resource Center, in partnership with the City of Fayetteville,
the Beaver Water District and the Beaver Watershed Alliance recently restored 2,000 feet of an un -named
tributary that flows through the new Kessler Mountain Regional Park; and
WHEREAS, a contest judged by staff members of the Watershed Conservation Resource Center, the
Beaver Watershed Alliance, the City of Fayetteville Parks and Recreation Department, and the Northwest
Arkansas Land Trust was held to propose a name for the tributary which eventually flows to Cato Springs
Branch; and
WHEREAS, Leif Olson proposed the name "Ground -cherry Creek" based on the 2014 discovery of the
Missouri ground -cherry, a rare native species which had not been documented in this area since 1934, on
Kessler Mountain during a rapid ecological assessment conducted by Theo Witsell, a botanist and ecologist
with the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Olson's proposal reflects the City's commitment to protecting native Ozark plant and
animal habitats and educating the public about invasive plants that can damage these native habitats.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS:
Section 1. That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby names the un -named tributary
shown on the map attached to this Resolution that flows through the Kessler Mountain Regional Park
into Cato Springs Branch "Ground -cherry Creek" and thanks Leif Olson for his excellent proposal.
Page 1 Printed on 1217116
Resolution: 213-16
File Number: 2016-0556
PASSED and APPROVED on 12/6/2016
Attest:
Sondra E. Smith, City��
�7•
f'�f 11 1 1J t 111
Page 2 Printed on 1217116
City of Fayetteville, Arkansas 113 West Mountain Street
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 575-8323
Text File
File Number: 2016-0556
Agenda Date: 12/6/2016 Version: 1 Status: Passed
In Control: City Council Meeting
Agenda Number: A. 8
GROUND -CHERRY CREEK:
File Type: Resolution
A RESOLUTION TO NAME THE UNNAMED TRIBUTARY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF KESSLER
MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK "GROUND -CHERRY CREEK"
WHEREAS, the Watershed Conservation Resource Center, in partnership with the City of Fayetteville,
the Beaver Water District and the Beaver Watershed Alliance recently restored 2,000 feet of an
un -named tributary that flows through the new Kessler Mountain Regional Park; and
WHEREAS, a contest judged by staff members of the Watershed Conservation Resource Center, the
Beaver Watershed Alliance, the City of Fayetteville Parks and Recreation Department, and the
Northwest Arkansas Land Trust was held to propose a name for the tributary which' eventually flows to
Cato Springs Branch; and
WHEREAS, Leif Olson proposed the name "Ground -cherry Creek" based on the 2014 discovery of the
Missouri ground -cherry, a rare native species which had not been documented in this area since 1934,
on Kessler Mountain during a rapid ecological assessment conducted by Theo Witsell, a botanist and
ecologist with the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Olson's proposal reflects the City's commitment to protecting native Ozark plant and
animal habitats and educating the public about invasive plants that can damage these native habitats.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS:
Section 1. That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby names the un -named
tributary shown on the map attached to this Resolution that flows through the Kessler Mountain
Regional Park into Cato Springs Branch "Ground -cherry Creek" and thanks Leif Olson for his excellent
proposal.
City of Fayetteville, Arkansas Page 1 Printed on 121712016
Alison Jumper
Submitted By
City of Fayetteville Staff Review Form
2016.0556
_egistar File lid
.22
City Council Meeting Date - Agenda Item Only
N/A for Non -Agenda Item
11/16/2016 Parks & Recreation /
Parks & Recreation Department
Submitted Date Division / Department
Action Recommendation:
Staff recommends naming the unnamed tributary on the south side of Kessler Mountain Regional Park 'Ground -
cherry Creek'.
Account Number
Project Number
Budgeted Item? NA
Does item have a cost? NA
Budget Adjustment Attached? NA
Budget Impact:
Current Budget
Funds Obligated
Current Balance
Item Cost
Budget Adjustment
Fund
Project Title
i
Remaining Budget
V20140710
Previous Ordinance or Resolution #
Original Contract Number:
Comments:
Approval Date;
CITY OF
7ay% 711c
ARKANSAS
MEETING OF DECEMBER 6,2016
TO: Mayor Lioneld Jordan
City Council
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEMO
THRU: Don Marr, Chief of Staff
Connie Edmonston, Parks and Recreation Director
FROM: Alison Jumper, Park Planning Superintendent
DATE: November .15, 2016
SUBJECT: Naming of Unnamed Tributary at Kessler Mountain Regional Park
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends naming the unnamed tributary on the south side of Kessler Mountain
Regional Park `Ground -cherry Creek'.
BACKGROUND:
The Watershed Conservation Resource Center (WCRC) in partnership with the City of
Fayetteville, Beaver Water District, and Beaver Watershed Alliance recently restored,2000 feet
of an un -named tributary that flows through the new Kessler Mountain Regional Park. A naming
contest was advertised to propose a name for the un -named tributary which eventually flows to
Cato Springs Branch, just west of the University of Arkansas and 1- 49. Proposed names were
to emphasize the local history of the area, be supported by research and evidence, be
significant and relevant to the areas adjacent to the tributary, and consider the following:
1) Local historical context,
2) Local cultural significance,
3) Connections to natural features.
Teams were asked to submit an essay up to two pages presenting their proposed name for the
tributary and the evidence that supported their proposed name including references. Beaver
Watershed Alliance and the WCRC sponsored the contest and judged the submissions along
with the City of Fayetteville, Parks and Recreation and the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust. The
name selected based on an essay written by Leif Olson was "Ground -cherry Creek."
The naming proposal was presented to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on November
7, 2016. The Board made a unanimous recommendation to forward approval of the name to
City Council.
Mailing Address:
113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov
Fayetteville, AR 72701
DISCUSSION:
Eight submittals were received for the competition. The winning name, Ground -cherry Creek,
was predicated on the discovery of the Missouri ground -cherry on Kessler Mountain during a
rapid ecological assessment conducted by Theo Witsell in 2014. This was one of several rare
plant and animal species found on the site. According to the study, the Missouri ground -cherry
has not been documented in the area since 1934.
If approved, the naming proposal will be submitted to the United States Board on Geographic
Names for approval.
BUDGET/STAFF IMPACT:
None.
Attachments:
Winning Submittal
November 7 PRAB Minutes
Location Map
Kessler Mountain Stream Naming
Dear BWA and WCRC staff, I would propose the name "Ground -cherry Creek" for the unnamed creek
located on Kessler Mountain.
The Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association (FNHA) contracted with the Arkansas Natural Heritage
Commission (ANHC) to conduct a rapid ecological assessment of the Kessler Mountain Reserve. Theo
Witsell a Botanist and Ecologist with the ANHC inventoried data on six different trips to Kessler
Mountain between April and October of 2014. The inventory documented 11 natural habitats and 544
plant species in the area. Five habitats were identified as being especially ecologically significant to the
site. In all, nine rare plant and animal species were identified, two of which are considered to be of
global concern.
The Ecological Assessment goes on to state: "Prior to its rediscovery at Kessler Mountain in 2014,
Missouri ground -cherry (Fig. 31) was known in Arkansas from just a handful of collections made
between 1923 and 1953 in five Ozark region counties: Benton, Carroll, Fulton, Newton, and Washington
(ANHC 2015; Gentry et al. 2013). One of these historical specimens was collected from "Kessler
Mountain, Washington County" by W. Giles on October 6, 1934 but was not documented from that area
of the state again until the present study, 80 years later.
Arkansas isn't the only state where Missouri ground -cherry seems to have gone missing either. George
Yatskievych, director of the Flora of Missouri Project, reports that only two of the Missouri records for
the species are from after 1960 (G. Yatskievych, pers. comm.). Missouri is the center of the species'
narrow range, which also includes northern Arkansas, part of eastern Kansas, two counties each in
Oklahoma and Nebraska, and one county in Texas. Dr. Yatskievych also says that the species is "known
almost entirely from historical collections across its range, which is troubling". The cause of this
apparent decline is unclear but much of the appropriate habitat for Missouri ground -cherry (areas of
loose soil and rock (talus) at the base of calcareous bluffs) at Kessler Mountain has been choked out by
two species of non-native invasive shrubs: bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii*) and perfumed cherry
(Prunus mahaleb*). Encroachment by these and other invasive species in bluff and talus habitat is
having a negative impact on native species across the Ozarks and may play a role in the scarcity of
Missouri ground -cherry, at least in some areas."
The City of Fayetteville has shown that it is committed to addressing issues related to invasive plants
that can damage native habitats with its' recently adopted an Invasive Plant Species Ordinance that
prohibits the planting of eighteen identified invasive plants in new developments. Additionally, the City
has created education materials for the public that allow residents to identify, eradicate and replace
invasive plants with native plants. These materials can be found here: htt www.fayetteville-
ar.gov/3028/Inva_sive-Plants-and-Native-Alternatives
In closing, I think that finding a globally rare plant on Kessler Mountain is pretty amazing. The fact that
invasive plants are altering our distinct Ozark habitats, and that native plants are disappearing, is very
concerning. Naming this tributary Ground -cherry Creek would celebrate the specialness of this place
while educating the public on the fragility of native Ozark plant and animal habitats.
Thank you for your consideration. Leif Olson
floatarkansas2gmail.com
CITY OF
Fay% -Ile
ARKANSAS
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting
November 7, 2016 at 5:30 p.m.
City Administration Building Room 326
113 West Mountain Street
Fayetteville, AR
Members: Richie Lamb, David Priest, Wade Colwell, Terry Lawson, Chuck
Maxwell, Kyle McHan, Phillip McKnight, David Proffitt, JL Jennings
City Staff: Connie Edmonston, Director; Byron Humphry, Maintenance
Superintendent; Alison Jumper, Park Planning Superintendent; Chanel
Pennington, Operations Assistant, Ken Eastin, Park Planner; John Crow,
Recreation Superintendent; Matt Mihalevich, Trail Coordinator
AGENDA for 5:30 pm:
MINUTES
4. Stream Naming Proposal- Alison Jumper, Park Planning Superintendent
The Watershed Conservation Resource Center (WCRC) in partnership with
the City of Fayetteville, Beaver Water District, and Beaver Watershed Alliance
recently restored 2000 feet of an un -named tributary that flows through the
new Kessler Mountain Regional Park. A naming contest was advertised to
propose a name for the un -named tributary which eventually flows to Cato
Springs Branch, just west of the University of Arkansas and 1- 49. Proposed
names were to emphasize the local history of the area, be supported by
research and evidence, be significant and relevant to the areas adjacent to
the tributary, and consider the following.-
1)
ollowing:
1) Local historical context,
2) Local cultural significance,
3) Connections to natural features.
Teams were asked to submit an essay up to two pages presenting their
proposed name for the tributary and the evidence that supported their
proposed name including references. Beaver Watershed Alliance and the
WCRC sponsored the contest and judged the submissions along with the City
of Fayetteville, Parks and Recreation and the Northwest Arkansas Land
Trust. The name selected was "Ground Cherry Creek."
Mailing Address:
113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Staff Recommendation: Approval of naming the southern stream "Ground
Cherry Creek" based on the background provided. Final approval of this
naming request will be City Council.
Sandi Formica with the Watershed Conservation Resource Center was
present and offered to take the members of the Board on a tour of the stream
Formica also gave a brief background on the significance of the Ground
Cherry.
John Pennington with the Beaver Watershed Alliance was also present. He
added that Leif Olson submitted the winning entry.
Formica added there will be informational panels about the Ground Cherry
near the creek. She has also proposed a formal ribbon cutting ceremony.
PRAB Motion: Lamb motioned to accept, Maxwell seconded the motion.
Motion passed, 6-0-0.
Adjourn
Lamb adjourned the meeting at 6:25 PM.
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