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SOURCES: N.C. Crop and Livestock Reporting Service; Triangle <br /> J Council of Governments . <br /> As shown, the cropland base of the Township decreased in this <br /> period by 2,302 acres. In contrast, the pastureland base <br /> increased over the same period by almost 20% or just over 500 <br /> acres. overall, the combined total of cropland and pasture <br /> land in Cheeks Township declined by about 1,800 acres between <br /> 1955 and 1977, representing an 18% loss. <br /> Part of this loss probably occurred as a consequence of the <br /> construction of Interstate 85 through Cheeks Township. The <br /> three Townships through which the Interstate was built lost <br /> an average of more than 26% of their total crop and pasture <br /> land, as compared to an average loss of 19% for the four <br /> remaining Townships. Such major highway construction can <br /> cause farmland loss both through direct acquisition of <br /> rights-of-way and through the commercial industrial and <br /> residential development that is stimulated by improved <br /> transportation access. The proposed widening of 1-85 to six <br /> lanes through this part of North Carolina, as well as the <br /> coMpjeti2a of 1-40 will provide additional means of access to <br /> regional population and employment centers from Cheeks <br /> Township. Development responding to these changes in the <br /> transportation system will stimulate additional pressures for <br /> the conversion of crop and pasture land to non-farm uses. <br /> Recent statistics from the Orange County Agricultural <br /> Extansign Service indicate a continued in t�L=_ land <br /> decl <br /> acreagA_. The Service estimates that between 1981 and 1987, <br /> approximate 400 acres of crp <br /> wngship were lost to development p and pasture land in Cheeks <br /> To <br /> . _ activity, <br /> Even zLt—h the changes that have occurred over the Past two <br /> ftcades remains An important agricultural <br /> -, Cheeks Township rem <br /> center. Thirty bee Pgoducers, yielding 15% of the total <br /> beef cattle in grng County., are locate in tb_e_ Townsh1p_4 <br /> along yA—th seven Grade A dairies, one poultry farm and three <br /> tobacco farms. overall,- JL% p <br /> t the County`s total farm <br /> inc a percentage that <br /> income comes fgom Chalks Tpwnshj2p <br /> trgnslAtes Into approximately $3,000,000 annually based on <br /> Natural Environmental Constraints <br /> Cheeks Township contains the following natural environmental <br /> constraints to development activity: floodplaias, water <br /> supply watersheds, steep slopes and poor soil conditions. <br /> FLOODPLAINS. Approximately 1 ,070 acres lien 100-year <br /> floodplains. Floodplains occur along Seven Mile Creek, <br /> Crabtree Creek and Rocky Run in the southeastern part of the <br /> Township; along the Eno River and its tributaries and McGowan <br /> Creek in the north-central part of the Township; and along <br /> 3 .8-5 <br />