Agenda - 03-13-2007-5m - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 13, 2007 Action Agenda Item No. ~- n'1 SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing the County to Administer a Potential Grant from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund -Upper Eno Watershed DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Conservation ATTACHMENT: Resolution INFORMATION CONTACT: David Stancil, 245-2590 Rich Shaw, 245-2591 PURPOSE: To authorize Orange County staff to execute and perform the obligations required of a grant recipient should the County be awarded a grant from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund: BACKGROUND: The County and the Eno River Association have submitted a joint grant application to the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) for land acquisition. The requested grant funds would be used to purchase a 110-acre tract owned by Joanne Stollings of Burlington. The property is located west of Highland Farm Road, less than one mile from the intersection with Efland-Cedar Grove Road. The site has 2.1 miles bordering the East and West Forks of the Eno River, and is recognized as a high priority for conservation purposes. Sections of the river support aquatic habitat of national significance. In addition, the site includes remains of the former Smith Mill. Acquisition ofhigh-priority lands in the Upper Eno Watershed critical area is identified in the Lands Legacy Action Plan adopted for FY 2006-08. The CWMTF Board is expected to make a decision in September 2007. If the funds were awarded for this project, the Association would take the necessary steps to purchase the property using a combination of State, County and private funds. The Association would grant a conservation easement to the County, which would prohibit future development of the site outside of facilities needed for low-impact recreation and education. The State would also hold a conservation easement to protect the 300-foot stream buffers. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The grant application requests $668,314 to be matched with up to $250,000 from Orange County (Lands Legacy Fund) and up to $250,000 from the Eno River Association. The total project cost would be approximately $1,168,193. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the resolution authorizing the Manager and staff to execute and perform the obligations required of a recipient of a grant from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund should grant funds be awarded for acquisition of the Stollings property.