Agenda 8-j - Resolutions of Approval – Conservation Easements on Two Eno River Association Properties and Approval of Budget Amendment #8-C

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 6, 2017 Action Agenda Item No. 8-e SUBJECT: Request for Funding Assistance - Eno River Association Clean Water Management Trust Fund Applications DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR) ATTACHMENTS 1. Letters from the Eno River Association 2. Location Map 3. Iski Site Map 4. Hobgood Site Map 5. Draft Letters of Funding Commitments 6. Orange County Grant Agreements INFORMATION CONTACT: David Stancil, 245-2510 Kim Livingston, 245-2514 Rich Shaw, 245-2511 PURPOSE: To consider a request for matching funds from the Eno River Association for Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant applications for the acquisitions of the Iski and Hobgood properties. BACKGROUND: The acquisition of conservation easements to protect highly important natural and cultural resource lands in Orange County is a longstanding goal of the Board of Commissioners, and is a priority of the Lands Legacy program. Since 2001, the County has partnered with landowners and other entities to protect 2,244 acres of significant natural areas and prime farmland with permanent conservation easements. The Eno River Association submitted Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant applications in February for two fee-simple acquisitions of lands along the Upper Eno River corridor – the 56.31-acre Iski property, and the 22.66-acre Hobgood property. It is the intent of the Eno River Association to have Orange County hold conservation easements on both the Iski and Hobgood properties. The Association requests matching fund assistance from Orange County for both acquisitions. The Eno River Association closed on the Iski Property on May 15, 2017, and has the Hobgood Property under contract contingent on receiving all necessary funding. The Hobgood property acquisition would also be augmented with an additional 19-acre conservation easement donation by the landowner on farm property across Highland Farm Road (please see Attachment 4). The Iski Property is located on Lebanon Road in Cheeks Township, a short distance downstream from the confluence of the East and West Forks of the Eno River. This confluence and the Upper Eno River corridor north and west of Hillsborough, has long been a top priority for conservation in the Lands Legacy Program. The site is just upstream of Corporation Lake, near Duke Forest and other Orange County conservation lands. The Iski property is entirely forested and has two small sheds, but is otherwise undeveloped. The property contains over one-mile of stream frontage, of which 3,600-feet are on the Eno River 6