Personnel

Lisa R. Gaffney, B.S.
Environmental Scientist

Education:

1997 B.S. Biology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte , NC .

Additional / Continuing Education:

• 2006 Mecklenburg County Certified Site Inspector
• 2001, 2006 North Carolina Stream Restoration Conference
• 2000 Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation & Management Training Program
• 1999 Mecklenburg County Surface Water Improvement & Management Stream Buffer Workshop

Affiliations

• Research Team member, Redlair Preserve
• North Carolina Association of Environmental Professionals
• Editor, Andre Michaux International Society Newsletter
• Committee Member - Mecklenburg County Stewardship Advisory Council

Position and Background:

Ms. Gaffney joined the HARP team in 1997 and serves as project manager, field botanist, natural communities evaluator, NOV crisis manager, certified site inspector, wetland delineator, and bioengineering supervisor.  As a botanist she is proficient in the identification of plants.  Ms. Gaffney is very familiar with the taxonomy and habitat of the Federally Endangered Schweinitz's Sunflower ( Helianthus schweinitzii ), and Smooth Coneflower ( Echinacea laevigata ), Candidate Georgia Aster ( Symphyotrichum georgianum ) and Threatened Dwarf Heartleaf Ginger ( Hexastylis naniflora ), as well as other rare species and species of concern.   She served as field botanist and wrote reports for Natural Heritage Inventories in Cabarrus and Lincoln Counties .  She is responsible for long term monitoring and management of two piedmont prairie restoration sites funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  Ms. Gaffney has conducted numerous Environmental Assessments, Threatened and Endangered Species Surveys, Stream Assessments, Tree Surveys, and Site Inspections. She has also managed numerous remediation projects for compliance with the NC Sediment and Erosion Control Ordinance and other local ordinances.

Professional Experience:

Ms. Gaffney has conducted the following activities for HARP

• Field Surveyor for the Cabarrus County Natural Heritage Inventory.  Organized, directed, and worked in field survey of natural areas in Cabarrus County , collecting field data and writing reports.
• Field Surveyor for the Lincoln County Natural Heritage Inventory.  Organized, directed, and worked in field survey of natural areas in Lincoln County , collecting field data and writing reports.
• Threatened and Endangered Species Surveys and Natural Communities Evaluation for over 6,000 acres in North and South Carolina .
• Notice of Violation crisis management, assessment and remediation plans for numerous projects for compliance with the NC Sediment and Erosion Control Ordinance and other local ordinances.
• Currently participating in numerous Piedmont Prairie restoration projects including two funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Cabarrus and Gaston Counties , North Carolina .
• Location and identification of four previously unreported populations of Federally Endangered Schweinitz's Sunflower ( Helianthus schweinitzii ).
• Location and identification of four previously unreported populations of Threatened Dwarf Heartleaf Ginger ( Hexastylis naniflora ).
• Rescue and relocation of several populations of the Federally Endangered Schweinitz's Sunflower ( Helianthus schweinitzii ).
• Supervised soil bioengineering for stream bank stabilization for numerous restoration projects including for Charlotte Storm Water Services and Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services.
• Numerous wetland delineations in North and South Carolina .

Prior to joining the HARP team Ms. Gaffney held the following positions:

• Conservation Science Technician, Natural Resources Division of the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department, 1996. Accomplishments include the setup of a county herbarium, completion of flora surveys, and collection of voucher specimens for the Nature Preserves in the county.
• Employed by the UNCC Biology Department in the University's Herbarium 1995 to 1997.  Duties included all aspects of processing, cataloging and accessioning herbarium specimens.