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14 1 through a variety of voluntary means. Over the first 17 years of the program, Orange County 2 acquired land for eight new parks and nature preserves, conserved 20 active farms (1,930 3 acres), and protected nearly 1,500 acres of natural open space in the Eno River, Cane Creek, 4 Little River, and New Hope Creek watersheds. Over that period the County helped other 5 partners protect an additional 1,338 acres of sensitive resource lands. 6 7 Most projects are accomplished in partnership with other conservation entities, including the 8 Triangle Land Conservancy, Orange Water & Sewer Authority, Eno River Association, the 9 Orange NRCS/Soil & Water Office, State and Federal trust funds, and adjoining local 10 governments. With those partnerships, OrangeCounty has been awarded over $5 million in 11 grants for park acquisition or construction and for conserving farms and open space. 12 13 The Lands Legacy Program is directed by the BOCC’s adoption of an Action Plan. The 14 proposed 2018-2020 Action Plan reflects acquisition priorities for the next three years. Action 15 Plan development is aided by input from resident advisory boards: the Commission for the 16 Environment (for natural areas, prime forest, riparian buffers, and open space/trails); the 17 Agricultural Preservation Board (for farmland preservation); the Historic Preservation Board (for 18 historic/cultural resources); and the Parks and Recreation Council (for parklands, open 19 space/trails). 20 21 This Action Plan comes at a time where staff is mindful of several new developments that will 22 affect the County’s land conservation actions and decisions: 23 An improving regional economy –an upturn following the Great Recession (2008-12) 24 providing more conservation opportunities and resulting in higher land values. 25 No more NC Conservation Tax Credit –The NC General Assembly eliminated one of 26 the important incentives for landowners to donate conservation easements or enter into 27 bargain sales. The tax credit program expired December 31, 2013. 28 Less funding from the State –Although the state budget includes funding for land 29 conservation, the amount of grant funds available to local governments from the state 30 trust funds has been reduced significantly. 31 County parks master plan update –The new Orange County Parks and Recreation 32 Master Plan 2030 was completed and adopted in 2014. The plan helps guide future 33 Lands Legacy program acquisitions related to parks, open space and trails, with an 34 emphasis on completing planned and land-banked parks, and expanding and 35 enhancing nature preserves. 36 County funding for conservation easements –The BOCC approved a biennial allocation 37 of $500,000 in the Capital Investment Plan (CIP) for conservation easement purchases. 38 These funds are expected to leverage outside funds from various sources. 39 40 Most of the priority focus areas in the 2018-2020 Action Plan are multi-year projects repeated 41 from previous action plans. This has often been in the case in prior Action Plans, as many of 42 these projects take considerable time to come to fruition. A few potential new projects are 43 offered for the Board’s consideration. Details of each are provided on pages 4-5 of the action 44 plan. Among the priorities in this three-year plan are: 45 Upper Eno Preserve/ Mountains-to-Sea Trail 46 Farmland Easements 47 Bingham Township Park 48 Jordan Lake Headwaters Preserve 49 Wildlife and Natural Connection Corridors between New Hope Creek and the Eno River 50 Local Historic Landmarks