Natural Resources Inventory

The NRSC commissioned Equinox Environmental to conduct an inventory of CF natural resources to form a basis for future planning. (Read the NRI summary) (View the 2022 presentation on YouTube)​​​​ The completed 2023 Equinox NRI report contains a baseline assessment of the natural resources within CF, delineating the composition of the forested natural communities and assessing their age, health, and notable components. The report also describes the type, quantity, and quality of stream and wetland resources, as well as wildlife presence/absence and habitat type/quality. (Read the full Equinox NRI Report)

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Forest Management Plan

The NRSC commissioned EcoForesters, a nonprofit professional forestry organization dedicated to conserving and restoring our Appalachian forests, to develop a long-term CF Forest Management Plan. The EcoForesters Forest Management Plan (FMP) is an extension of the Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) created by Equinox Environmental. The purpose of the FMP is to further explore and define the conditions of the CF forested property to identify threats, to make sound forest management recommendations, and to promote ecosystem health and long-term sustainability.  (View the slide presentation)

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Lake Management Plan

In 2024, the NRSC partnered with the CF Fishing Club to create a Lake Management subcommittee, tasked with ensuring the quality of water in our lakes and streams for recreational use and wildlife habitat. The subcommittee commissioned Dr. Troy Farmer, Associate Professor of Fisheries Ecology in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation at Clemson University, as the lead scientist for the Lake Management Study, beginning in May 2025. The study is a two and a half year project that will provide:
• a comprehensive watershed survey, addressing run-off, sediments, nutrients, submerged habitats, seasonal water quality, best water release strategies, invasive land and lake species, including parrot feather
• fishery surveys, including fish species composition, predator to prey analyses, and largemouth bass modeling
• a lake management plan with recommendations on how Connestee Falls should manage our lakes and streams for recreational use and long-term sustainability

(View the Lake Management Study presentation on YouTube)

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