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Lands Legacy Action Plan 2006 -08 <br />In addition to specific acquisition <br />objectives, the following actions and <br />strategies will be pursued to facilitate <br />long -term land conservation: <br />1. Explore the potential for <br />establishing and managing a <br />system of larger Orange County <br />Nature Preserves, including an <br />Upper Eno Nature Preserve and <br />an expanded New Hope Preserve. <br />2. Work with advisory boards to <br />develop a Countywide <br />Farmland Protection Plan for <br />possible adoption as part of the <br />Lands Legacy Program. <br />3. Explore the potential for <br />establishing an Orange County <br />Land Trust or Open Space <br />Authority as envisioned by the <br />Lands Legacy program document. <br />4. Begin identifying key parcels for <br />the proposed segment of the NC <br />Mountains to Sea Trail <br />corridor between Occoneechee <br />Mountain and the Haw River. <br />5. Re- convene the Orange County <br />Land Conservation Alliance <br />to discuss progress and potential <br />opportunities for collaboration <br />with other conservation partners. <br />6. Continue exploring potential pilot <br />project to restore /reconstruct a <br />piedmont prairie site in <br />partnership with others (NC <br />Botanical Garden, universities, <br />NRCS). <br />7. Continue outreach with civic <br />organizations, neighborhood <br />groups, and others to discuss <br />the Lands Legacy Program and <br />conservation options. <br />8. Compile land acquisition inquiries <br />and potential opportunities from <br />landowners and other partners, <br />and present to the Board's for <br />direction on whether to pursue <br />acquisition. <br />The first five years of the Lands <br />Legacy Program saw tremendous <br />strides in the protection of priority <br />resource lands, with 1,641 acres <br />permanently protected (as of May <br />2006) and several more projects in <br />the works. <br />The FY 2006 -08 Action Plan will build <br />on projects from previous years, and <br />includes additional projects in each <br />of the Lands Legacy priority areas <br />(natural areas, parkland, cultural/ <br />historic resources, prime farmland <br />and riparian buffers in potential <br />wildlife corridors and public water <br />supply watersheds. <br />This Action Plan will further the use <br />of 2001 parks and open space bonds <br />funds to protect high priority <br />resource lands in Orange County. <br />ERCD will also continue to pursue <br />grant funds from a variety of state <br />and federal sources. <br />13 <br />