Conservation Easement - Carl and Eve Shy, PIN: 9831-20-1870, PIN: 9831-10-8624

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gwr2757 PxtI28 Conservation Values The subject property has many important conservation values that have been protected by the Shys over their many years of owning and caring for this land. Some of the values that will receive further, long-term protection by the conservation easement are described below. 1) Natural area and wildlife habitat It is a primary purpose of the Easement to protect the natural areas and wildlife habitat that exists on the property. The large undeveloped portions of the property provide habitat for a variety of native plants and animals described for this area on Pages 41-42 of the Inventory of the Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitats of Orange County, North Carolina (Sawther and Hall, 1988). The native plants and animals known to be within this area include chestnut oak,red oak,shagbark hickory,red-tailed hawk, scarlet and summer tanagers, yellow-throated vireos,white-tailed deer,red foxes, eastern chipmunks and gray squirrels. Although the subject property is not within the boundaries of the natural area identified by Sawther and Hall as Site C01 (Cane Creek Reservoir),the property contains many of the same attributes and values described for that area. The site description and map of Cane Creek Reservoir natural area(Site CO1) is provided as Attachment C. The following is an excerpt from that description: "Reasons for significance: Three of the low peaks surrounding the Cane Creek Reservoir are still relatively undeveloped and possess good examples of upland hardwood forests typical of the Piedmont. Collectively, these uplands are extensive enough to provide good habitat for several animals sensitive to human disturbance. Situated in the Cane Creek valley, it is an important habitat node within an extensive wildlife corridor connected to the Haw River system." 2) Water supply watershed It is a primary purpose of the Easement to protect the largely undeveloped nature of the property and the high quality of water that flows from this property to the Cane Creek Reservoir. The property includes land within the zone designated by Orange County as a"critical area"of a protected water supply watershed for the Cane Creek Reservoir. The critical area is defined as that area within one-half mile of the normal pool of the reservoir or to the ridgeline of the watershed,whichever is less. A topographic map showing the reservoir and the watershed boundary is provided as Attachment D. The conservation easement will reduce the potential number of home sites on the property from 14 to just two, thereby greatly reducing potential adverse affects of development on the water supply. 3) Prime agricultural land It is a secondary purpose of the Easement to help protect the agricultural soils and agricultural viability and productivity of the property. The property includes productive agricultural land, portions of which the Shys have leased to an area farmer for crop production. The majority of the soils on the property are classified as "prime soils"by the Natural Resources Conservation Service(U.S. Dept. of Agriculture). The soils are identified Page 2 of 6