ORD-2013-037 Ordinance approving Budget Amendment #2-B and Eno River Assoc. Conservation Easements and Funding Assistance

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ORD-2013-037 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: October 15, 2013 Action Agenda Item No. 5-g SUBJECT: Eno River Association Conservation Easements — Funding Assistance and Approval of Budget Amendment #2-B DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No and Recreation (DEAPR) ATTACHMENTS INFORMATION CONTACT: 1. Infinity Farm Location Map David Stancil, 245-2510 2. Infinity Farm Easement Map Rich Shaw, 245-2514 3. Buckquarter Creek Tract Location Map 4. Buckquarter Creek Tract Site Map PURPOSE: To consider a contribution of County funds for the acquisition of permanent conservation easements by the Eno River Association to protect significant natural resource lands at Infinity Farm (Cedar Grove Township) and along Buckquarter Creek (Eno Township); and to approve Budget Amendment #2-B. BACKGROUND: The acquisition of conservation easements to protect highly important natural and cultural resource lands in Orange County is a longstanding goal of the Board of Commissioners, and is a priority of the Lands Legacy program. Since 2001, the County has partnered with landowners and other entities to protect 2,030 acres of prime farmland and riparian buffers with conservation easements. Over the past several months DEAPR has worked with the Eno River Association on projects to conserve highly significant land and water resources at two locations: Infinity Farm in Cedar Grove and the Buckquarter Creek Tract located northeast of Hillsborough. The Eno River Association has gathered funding from several sources with which it intends to purchase conservation easements from the owners of both properties. Infinity Farm is a 161-acre property located on McDade Store Road in Cedar Grove Township. Owners Joy and Robert Kwapien intend to grant a permanent conservation easement to protect a 61-acre forested area located on the West Fork Eno River and 1,000 feet upstream of the West Fork Reservoir, a drinking water source for Hillsborough. The property helps to buffer the river from farm activities and provides significant wildlife habitat. The easement will prohibit future subdivision and maintain the entire 61 acres as forestland. The Buckquarter Creek Tract is 41 acres located south of St. Mary's Road and adjacent to Eno River State Park (Eno Township). The property is mature pine forest with 500 feet of frontage along Buckquarter Creek (Eno River tributary) and 5,800 feet along other streams that feed Buckquarter Creek. The landowners, Ann Bacon Hollowell and Mary Ellen