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. ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: June 16, 2009 <br />1 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ¢ - j <br />SUBJECT: Resolution of Approval -Underwood Conservation Easement Donation <br />DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />Conservation <br />ATTACHMENTS <br />Resolution of Approval <br />Draft Conservation Easement <br />Vicinity Map <br />Site Map <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />David Stancil, 245-2590 <br />Rich Shaw, 245-2591 <br />PURPOSE: To consider a resolution to approve the acceptance by Orange County of a <br />conservation easement donation to protect a portion of the Underwood property. <br />BACKGROUND: The Lands Legacy Program adopted in April 2000 works with landowners <br />and other conservation partners to protect important natural and cultural resource lands in <br />Orange County. Through this program the County uses a variety of voluntary means to <br />protect lands including fee-simple acquisition, land donations, and purchase or donation of <br />conservation easements. Since its inception Lands Legacy has protected over 1,500 acres <br />of prime farmland and riparian buffers with permanent conservation easements and another <br />977 acres of important natural and cultural resource lands by other means. <br />Barbara ("Betsy") Underwood owns a 22-acre property located on Walnut Grove Church <br />Road (Little River Township). The property includes four historic houses Ms. Underwood <br />restored for use over the past several years as rental homes. Ms. Underwood is currently <br />working with the Planning Department on a minor subdivision that will result in each of the <br />existing dwellings on its own lot (with individual wells and septic systems), thereby making the <br />property consistent with current zoning regulations. <br />Ms. Underwood intends to protect Lot 5 (7.58 acres) with a permanent conservation <br />easement. The property includes a forested stream corridor (Covey Creek) and 19t" Century <br />log house. The property is located in the Little River Protected Watershed, which the Lands <br />Legacy Action Plan identifies as a priority watershed for conserving riparian buffers to help <br />protect drinking water quality and aquatic habitat. The property includes 600 linear feet of <br />Covey Creek which drains into the South Fork Little River (200 feet downstream). <br />The property is also located just upstream from South Fork Little River Marsh - an Orange <br />County Natural Heritage site recognized as a naturally impounded wetland marsh and <br />bottomland habitat of County significance. Conserving land along Covey Creek helps protect <br />