State park ranger Kelly Cooke will discuss the history of Lake Norman at a meeting of the Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists, Thursday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m., at Mooresville Public Library, 304 S. Main St.

The program is free and open to the public. Mr. Cooke will share his research about the land now occupied by Lake Norman, which is the Carolinas’ largest inland body of water. He’ll talk about how the lake was formed and its impact on wildlife.

Also at the meeting, the Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists will register participants for upcoming programs including the Owl Prowl, Woodcock Walk and Citizen Science monitoring projects.

The group is a chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. For more information about the chapter and its programs, visit www.lakenormanwildlife.org or call 704-332-5696.

Mr. Cook is a native of rural Cleveland County, Cooke’s first job was at South Mountains State Park where he helped construct the steps and bridges that assist people with getting to High Shoals Falls. He earned his master’s degree in environmental science while teaching full time at the New Jersey School of Conservation. He then returned to North Carolina and has served as a ranger at both Crowders Mountain and Lake Norman state parks.