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4 <br />RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF AN <br />ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION <br />DEPARTMENT <br />1. Mission of the Environment and Resource Conservation <br />Department (ERCD) <br />The May 25 memoranda from Dr. Gordon lay out a number of concepts that <br />would easily translate into a mission for the new department. Based on the staff <br />work group's reading, this mission statement would include: <br />A. Overseeing, implementing, and coordinating County goals for <br />environmental protection and resource conservation. <br />An important key for the County's future quality of fife is 'staying green <br />while we grow'. The concept of "green infrastructure" has become popular <br />in other counties and regions as a means of providing reasonable access <br />to nature and establishing a Countywide system of natural areas, parks <br />and trails to support wildlife populations. The preservation of our skeletal <br />framework of natural areas and important resources has been identified <br />as a crucial component of how livable Orange County will be in the future. <br />A number of the existing Commissioners goals are directly related to this <br />concept, and the creation of this department. While future goals may be <br />added to address new initiatives that the Board wishes to address, the <br />following goals represent examples of ways that the County is already <br />working to build and maintain "green infrastructure." The following goals <br />appear to be a good fit with the new department, and responsibility for <br />them should be transferred to the Environment and Resource <br />Conservation Department: <br />1. Natural Resource Preservation <br />2. Water Resources (ground water) <br />3. Historic Preservation <br />4. Farmland Preservation <br />5. Watershed Protection <br />6. Shaping Orange County's Future <br />7. Sustainability <br />This department will have primary responsibility for these areas (e.g., <br />natural resources). In addition, it will coordinate the acquisition programs <br />and the records for other areas, as outlined below. <br />