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3 <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />RESOLUTION <br />Authorization to Accept a Conservation Easement <br />from the Eno River Association for the Eno Confluence Property <br />WHEREAS, Orange County has adopted goals promoting the preservation of natural areas, <br />wildlife habitat, farmland and open space in the County; and <br />WHEREAS, one component of the Lands Legacy Program is the acquisition of conservation <br />easements on lands that include natural areas, wildlife habitat and riparian buffers within <br />water supply watersheds; and <br />WHEREAS, Orange County and the Eno River Association, a private non-profit land trust <br />with similar conservation goals, have agreed to collaborate on the acquisition and protection <br />of riparian buffers and aquatic habitat in the Upper Eno watershed; and <br />WHEREAS, Orange County and the Eno River Association were awarded a grant from the <br />NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund to protect a 110-acre property located at the <br />confluence of the East and West Forks of the Eno River ("Eno Confluence"); and <br />WHEREAS, the Eno River Association intends to acquire the property and grant a <br />conservation easement over the entire property to Orange County, which would protect the <br />property for future low-impact recreation and educational uses; and <br />WHEREAS, Orange County and the Eno River Association have generally agreed on the <br />language of said conservation easement to be granted to the County; and <br />WHEREAS, the Eno River Association intends to execute a promissory note obligating the <br />Association to repay the County's funds in the event that the Association fails to execute and <br />record a conservation easement acceptable to the County; and <br />WHEREAS, the joint acquisition and protection of this property is exemplary of the County's <br />ongoing collaboration and partnership with the Eno River Association; <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that that the County agrees to release funds in the <br />amount of $250,000 for the purchase of the Eno Confluence property, which will be owned by <br />the Eno River Association. <br />BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners agree to the <br />acceptance of a conservation easement from the Eno River Association, with the <br />understanding that said easement will be granted to the County on or before December 31, <br />2008. <br />BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners agree to <br />execute an agreement with the Eno River Association that stipulates the specific terms of its <br />collaboration on this project. <br />