Agenda - 10-14-2014 - Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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ATTACHMENT 1 Orange County State of the Environment 2014 Critical Issues • Invasive, non - native, plant and animal species threaten the biological diversity of Orange County's aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Non - native species replace natives, threatening critical ecosystem services such as plant pollination and posing risks to livestock, land, and public health. • Important data on the quality and quantity of Orange County's surface water and groundwater will remain unknown as reductions are made in State -led data collection efforts. • If drilling for natural gas begins in the Deep River basin, nearby Orange County residents could experience negative impacts to air quality, water quality and supply, and infrastructure. • We need to do more to improve our air quality, chiefly by making changes that result in less reliance on cars. Locally, this can be achieved by: (1) increased availability and use of transit alternatives, including bus, rail, bicycle, and pedestrian pathways; and (2) town and county planning that fosters denser, walkable communities, reduces sprawl, and allows the clustering of development in urban buffers. The installation of ozone monitors could help track air quality more accurately. • Orange County should continue to support the responsible deployment of clean and appropriately -sited renewable energy. • Reducing energy use is the first step in fighting climate change. Orange County has made great strides in improving the energy efficiency of the buildings under its management. We can build on this progress by investing more in energy efficiency programs for residential, commercial, and other government buildings.