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8/ w 5/2'0 1 6 A �ic i l e i ( 2':1 ) hi e( Lo e (I( i i Co r71 i n " ` <br /> ITEM 4 <br /> AGENDA ITEM <br /> • Determine Whether the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) May Be Located on OWASA <br /> Property and If So, What Conditions Must Be Met <br /> PURPOSE <br /> • The purpose of this agenda item is for the OWASA Board of Directors to receive public <br /> comment and then discuss and determine whether the MST may be located on OWASA <br /> property, and if so, the conditions which must be met. <br /> BACKGROUND <br /> • The MST is a trail that will extend from the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey's Ridge State <br /> Park on the Outer Banks. <br /> • In 2009, the Chair of the OWASA Board of Directors sent a letter to the Chair of the Orange <br /> County Board of Commissioners (BOCC)indicating that OWASA would allow the use of its <br /> property in the vicinity of Cane Creek Reservoir as long as three conditions were met: <br /> o There is no compromise of water quality in Cane Creek Reservoir <br /> o There is no expenditure of OWASA funds <br /> o Arrangements would be made to minimize any additional security risks associated <br /> with hikers using the property around the reservoir <br /> • The BOCC approved a planning corridor for the trail in April 2010 that crosses OWASA <br /> land near Cane Creek Reservoir. <br /> • Orange County staff are currently working with other groups and holding public meetings to <br /> transition the trail planning corridor to a proposed trail alignment(s). <br /> • While the 2009 letter from the OWASA Board of Directors to the BOCC supports the use of <br /> OWASA land for the MST, the three conditions are broad. Providing more detailed <br /> conditions to Orange County on the use of our land for the MST during their public <br /> engagement and trail planning process will help the County determine the feasibility of using <br /> OWASA's land and identify a proposed trail alignment(s). <br /> • On June 23, 2016, the OWASA Board of Directors received background information on the <br /> MST, received public comment on the proposed MST, and began discussing whether the <br /> MST may be located on OWASA property, and if so, what conditions must be met. <br /> ACTION REQUESTED <br /> • Determine whether the MST may be located on OWASA property, and if so, the conditions <br /> which must be met. If the Board of Directors concludes that conditions protective of the <br /> water supply and other considerations have been determined to their satisfaction, staff and <br /> Counsel recommends the Board adopt the draft resolution provided, subject to amendments <br /> by the Board of Directors. <br /> August 25, 2016 <br /> 4.1 <br />