Publications

The initial inventory of the significant natural areas and wildlife habitats of Orange County was conducted from June 1987 to October 1988. The County contracted the Triangle Land Conservancy, a non-profit land trust, to produce the systematic inventory of the county’s remaining unique and exemplary natural ecosystems, rare species habitats, special wildlife habitats, and scenic areas. The 1988 survey was conducted by Dawson Sather and Stephen Hall, both experienced field biologists and ecologists. Supplemental funding for the original inventory was provided by an anonymous donor and by the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The 2004 update to the inventory was conducted by Bruce A. Sorrie, consulting biologist, for the Orange County Environment and Resource Conservation Department (ERCD). Fieldwork occurred from June 2001 to 2002. Rich Shaw and Margaret Jones (ERCD) updated the narrative and each site’s protection status and map. Funding for the update was provided by the NC Natural Heritage Trust Fund and by Orange County, North Carolina.