Agenda - 06-01-2010 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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SITES OF NATIONAL, STATE, AND REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE IN ORANGE COUNTY Sevenmile Creek/Cane Creek Macrosite Sevenmile Creek Sugar Maple Bottoms (regional significance) is the richest bottomland remaining in the county, and is located just west of Hillsborough. All other rich, basic bottomlands along upland streams have been brought under cultivation. Nowhere else occurs such a large stand of southern sugar maple (Acer barbatum), hackberry (Celtis laevigata), and swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii). The most important value of this site, however, is the amazingly profuse herb layer. Particularly impressive are the large patches of such regionally rare species as maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) and blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides); this is, in fact, the only known site for the blue cohosh in Orange County and much of the surrounding Piedmont. Ownership of this site is by Orange County and private landowners. Uaoer Eno River Macrosite Eno River Aquatic Habitat (national significance) has an extremely diverse aquatic fauna, including nine rare mussel species, three rare fish species and one rare amphibian. This site runs in two narrow east - southeast corridors in the central to eastern portion of the county (the site continues over the Durham County line). Also, several important terrestrial sites are adjacent to the Eno River. The Orange County portion of the Eno River contains one federally endangered mussel species —the dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon). It has been found at one location in the county. In addition, the federal species of concern and state endangered brook floater (Alasmidonta varicosa), Atlantic pigtoe (Fusconaia masoni), yellow lampmussel (Lampsilis cariosa) and green floater (Lasmigona subviridis) have all been found in the Orange County portion of the Eno River. This site is entirely within North Carolina Public Waters. Occoneechee Mountain (state significance) in the central part of the county is the highest point in Orange County and in the Triangle Region. As part of the overall massif of Occoneechee Mountain, this area forms an important wildlife reservoir; its position along the Eno further enhances its value since the valley of the Eno is one of the most significant wildlife corridors in the county. Naturalists have long recognized the Panther's Den ravine as state significant because of the several disjunct plant species that reach their easternmost limits at this site. The site is owned by the State of North Carolina, the Town of Hillsborough, the Eno River Association, and private landowners. Eno River /Cates Ford and Uplands (state significance) are located in the eastern section of the county, and this large site combines five contiguous sites that had been listed separately in the original 1988 inventory. They are the Rich Mesic Slopes, Uplands and Vernal Pools, Buckwater Creek Ridge and Slopes, Cox's Mountain and Cate's Ford. These areas include some of the richest forest slopes in Orange County, with north - facing slopes supporting a mesic mixed hardwood forest with an outstandingly diverse herb layer, massive rock outcrops, upland depressions and a very well - developed riparian community. Part of this site is within the Eno River State Park, the rest is in private ownership. Middle Eno River Bluffs and Slopes (state significance) is in the eastern section of the county and extends into Durham County. Several different habitats and state - listed species are found along the nearly two -mile portion of the site in Orange County. At the driest extreme is a community growing on a steep, 80 -foot bluff near the reservoir near the western boundary of this natural area. On gentler, less- exposed slopes occur mixed mesic hardwoods. At the bottom of these slopes, the herbaceous layer is very rich, as evidenced by the presence of maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum), wild ginger (Asarum canadense), and bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). Most of the site lies within Eno River State Park, the rest is in private ownership. ERSP Mountain Spleenwort and Rhododendron Bluff (regional significance) in the eastern section of the county, is the easternmost known location in the Carolinas for the mountain spleenwort (Asplenium montanum), a regionally rare plant species disjunct from the mountains. Additionally, the steep north - facing bluff on this bend of the Eno is the location of one of only nine populations of catawba rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense) in the county. A regionally rare disjunct animal, the red - backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus), is found here and at only two other sites in Orange County (Kings Mill and Mason Farm Pond: M08). Part of this site is within the Eno River State Park, the rest is in private ownership Cates Creek Hardwood Forest (regional significance) is in the central area of the county. Though reduced in size by surrounding development, this site is a good example of bottomland forest occurring over basic clay soils. The impermeability of this clay and the circumneutral pH provide habitat for such basophilic species as slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) and redbud (Cercis canadensis). The atamasco lily (Zephyranthes atamasco), found at scattered locations throughout the county on wet clay soils, is also present here. This site is on private land.