Agenda - 12-01-1998 - 9a - Laserfiche WebLink

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~;5 ~IEMORANDUNi To: Board of Coaunissioners and Manager From: Alice Gordon r~plG- Subject: Comprehensive Resource Conservation Program Date: ~iay Z5, I998 In considering our Goals and Objectives, I have proposed that the commissioners form a new Environment and Resource Conservation Department rather than a new section of the Planning Department. One of the casks of that new department v+~uld be to devise and implement a comprehensive resource conservation program. The purpose of this memo is to describe [hat program and suggest a method for its implementation. COivIPREH~INSIvE RESOURCE CONSERvATIO~+ PROGR4~1 Rationale Orange County's natural resources, and other resources, are disappearing at an alarming rate. For e~ca,mple, in the last decade 10 percent of the couary's prime forest land has been lost. The county commissioners could actively work to slow this trend by initiating, financing, and implementing a comprehensive resource conservation plan for Orange County. The plan should include conservation not only of forest land, but also farmland and historic sites and other significant resources. Elements of the Prog~ School/Park Acquisition (existins oolicv) Purchase of park sites which can be used later for schools or for schools in combination with parks. Financed by reserving the equivalent of one cent on the taY rate: Acquisition of Other Significant County, Resources Furchase of parcels significant for their natural resources or for other valuable features. Financed by continuing to reserve the equivalent of one cent on the taY .rate, and then leveraging these funds by seeking grants from available state funds such as the Clean Water Trust Funds. Further Description of a Comprehensive Resource Conservation Program as a first step, we could document the loss of natural resources and other resources using GIS rm:~ps, and then project what future buildout would be (assuming present trends) in the next fifty years. The county has data from the Triangle Land Conservancy documenting the location and extent of the rernalning prime forest land. The second phase of chat study will establish conservation priorities for these lands. We also have documented the most significant farmland and historic sites. With this information in hand we should move quickly to draw comprehensive resource protection maps. The digitized data bases for these maps will be dynamic and capable of continuous updating reflecting the changes in status.