Agenda - 06-07-1993 - VII-C - Laserfiche WebLink

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6 • Maintain and expand a geographically-referenced database for the Albemarle-Pamlico region to support the planning efforts of local governments;increase opportunities for local governments to access the database. A geographic information system (GIS) is a computerized, geographic database which provides a valuable tool for conducting local and state environmental planning. The state has an extensive GIS database in the APES region. Maintenance and expansion of this database, accompanied by increased accessibility to the database at the local level will greatly enhance the development and implementation of local environmental planning. (See Human Environment Plan, Management Action B and Information Management Plan). The waters of the Albemarle-Pamlico estuary and government-owned lands in the region are held in public trust for the citizens of and visitors to North Carolina. As population and development in the region increases, the demand for use of and access to public trust areas increases. State and local governments must respond to these demands with management that ensures the stewardship of public trust resources in balance with public access to these areas. • Develop state comprehensive public trust legislation by 1995 which includes public compensation for the private use of public trust resources to recognize and implement public trust rights. Public trust legislation would facilitate the implementation of effective stewardship of public trust areas and rights. At this time, North Carolina has a permissive stance with regard to private use of public trust areas. Fees should be charged to compensate for private use of the public trust and should go toward protection of other public trust resources. (See Human Environment Plan, Management Action C.) • Develop a comprehensive state public access plan by 1996 to recognize and implement public trust rights along the estuarine, ocean, and riverine shoreline. Public access provides an avenue for increasing public awareness and stewardship of natural resources. A comprehensive public access plan developed by local governments would help to ensure public access to public trust areas now and in the future. A comprehensive plan would support efficient management of public trust areas, provide justification for access projects, and allow targeting of project funding. (See Human Environment Plan, Management Action D.) viiir.`•i'�i?iii��::i$? �i�ir:iii>x':ii�:�:':4ii iii}:'i::i iii i�rii:`:,:Y}:�::�!.`•: -'•.iii'":i`.ii:�['i'?�;i;: ;:;.;?',:�:%�'•i`%2:2ii"i`%`'� iCi: Yi?r; !•.•Y.v::::'t..:.•r: .:.t,•1••/fi:.:./v::.:.:::.r:::.::,F,•:w:.v:::::.v...x:r:::::::::v:::.:::::::::•::::•::^:r:. .�}:m:::.v:.,v:.�:.::::.�:::::.�::::::::;:::::... , Human activities such as agriculture; forestry; and residential, commercial, and industrial development have often resulted in the loss or degradation of important terrestrial and wetland habitats. The Albemarle-Pamlico region includes many important terrestrial habitats which are essential to the survival of rare plant and animal species or are considered rare.natural communities. The region also includes an extensive variety and acreage of wetlands which provide important habitat for terrestrial and aquatic species and which provide important water control and water quality functions. Protection of these vital habitats and their important functions can be enhanced with management measures which complement existing regulatory efforts. Executive Summary--5 •