Agenda - 02-20-2007-6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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Fickle Creek Farm Conservation Easement Draft BOCC Jan 22 13 Plan shall be developed using the most recent standards and specifications of the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide and 7 CFR Part 12 that are in effect on the date of execution of this Conservation Easement. The Grantors may, however, develop and implement a Conservation Plan that proposes a higher level of conservation and is consistent with the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide standards and specifications, such as innovative management practices associated with "whole farm planning," holistic resource management, and sustainable agriculture and which Conservation Plan is approved by the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District. NRCS shall have the right to enter upon the Property, with advance notice to the Grantors, in order to monitor compliance with the Conservation Plan. In the event of noncompliance with the Conservation Plan, NRCS shall work with the Grantors to explore methods of compliance and give the Grantors a reasonable amount of time, not to exceed twelve months, to take corrective action. If the Grantors do not comply with the Conservation Plan, NRCS will inform Grantee of the Grantors' non - compliance. Grantee shall take all reasonable steps (including efforts at securing voluntary compliance and, if necessary, appropriate legal action) to secure compliance with the Conservation Plan following written notification from NRCS that (a) there is a substantial, ongoing event or circumstance of non- compliance with the Conservation Plan, (b) NRCS has worked with the Grantors to correct such noncompliance, and (c) Grantors have exhausted their appeal rights under applicable NRCS regulations. If the MRCS standards and specifications for highly erodible land are revised after the date of this Grant based on an Act of Congress, MRCS will work cooperatively with the Grantors to develop and implement a revised Conservation Plan. The provisions of this section apply to the highly erodible land conservation requirements of the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program and are not intended to affect any other natural resources conservation requirements to which the Grantors may be or may become subject. 10. Forest Management Trees may be removed, cut, and otherwise managed to control insects and disease, to prevent personal injury and property damage, to remove non- native species, for pasture restoration, for firewood, and for other non - commercial uses, including construction of permitted improvements and fences on the Property, so long as done in accordance with the Conservation Plan referenced in Paragraph 9 of this Conservation Easement and in accordance with a forest management plan prepared by a professional licensed forester approved by Grantee, such approval to not be unreasonably withheld, that is consistent with the above referenced Conservation Plan. Any other cutting, removal, or harvesting of trees, including any commercial harvesting of trees, may be undertaken only if a) the purpose is for clearing land for cultivation or use by livestock, and b) it occurs outside of the stream buffer described in Paragraph 4 of this Conservation Easement, and c) it is in accordance with the Conservation Plan and forest management plan referred to in this Paragraph 10.