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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: March 27, 2007 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. .~'' 1 <br />SUBJECT: Resolution of Approval -Conservation Easement for Stillhouse Creek <br />DEPARTMENTS: ERCD, NRCS/Soil and Water PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />Conservation District <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Resolution of Approval <br />Site Map <br />Draft Conservation Easement <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />David Stancil, 245-2590 <br />Rich Shaw, 245-2591 <br />Brent Bogue, 245-2750 <br />PURPOSE: To consider a resolution to approve the granting of a conservation easement by <br />Orange County to the State of North Carolina for the Stillhouse Creek Restoration Project. <br />BACKGROUND: Stillhouse Creek is a tributary of the -Eno River that runs through the <br />Orange County governmental campus in downtown Hillsborough. The Stillhouse Creek <br />restoration project was completed in May 2006. <br />The project restored a 1,400-foot section of the stream from Margaret Lane (behind the John <br />Link Government Services Center) to the Eno River. Substantial erosion had occurred along <br />this segment of the stream during the past 20 years., and this project was needed to minimize <br />future erosion and to restore streamside vegetation. <br />The restoration project design, construction, and oversight were completed by the Orange <br />Soil and Water Conservation District, the NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation, and <br />the. USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service along with the cooperation of various <br />County departments, including ERCD, Recreation & Parks, and Public Works. The project <br />was funded entirely by the NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP) for $239,000. <br />The creek restoration project was completed in May 2006. Activities to restore the stream <br />included re-establishing a vegetated buffer comprised of over 500 native trees and shrubs. <br />Portions of the stream were re-routed to decrease erosion and new "wetland pools" were <br />created to enhance aquatic habitat. The project design was coordinated with the planned <br />County courthouse expansion and River Park project. <br />The County entered into the project agreement with the State knowing that the County would, <br />following the restoration phase of the project, grant a conservation easement to State. The <br />easement will ensure permanent protection for the stream corridor (2.09 acres) while allowing <br />for maintenance of stream crossings for walking trails and utilities. <br />