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<br /> <br />ORD-2018-016 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: May 1, 2018 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-j <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Resolution of Approval – Conservation Easements on Two Eno River <br />Association Properties and Approval of Budget Amendment #8-C <br /> <br />DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br />and Recreation (DEAPR) <br /> <br /> <br />ATTACHMENTS <br />1. Resolution of Approval - Iski <br />2. Resolution of Approval - Hobgood <br />3. June 6, 2017 Agenda Abstract and <br />Excerpt from June 6, 2017 Approved <br />BOCC Minutes <br />4. Location Map <br />5. Site Maps <br />6. Draft Conservation Easement - Iski <br />7. Draft Conservation Easement - Hobgood <br /> <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />David Stancil, 245-2510 <br />Kim Livingston, 245-2514 <br />Rich Shaw, 245-2510 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />PURPOSE: To consider resolutions to approve the acceptance of conservation easements <br />from the Eno River Association for two conservation properties that the Board agreed to help <br />fund in June 2017, and approve Budget Amendment #8-C. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: The acquisition of conservation easements to protect highly important <br />natural and cultural resource lands in Orange County is a longstanding goal of the Board of <br />Commissioners, and is a priority of the Lands Legacy program. Since 2001, the County has <br />partnered with landowners and other entities to protect 2,313 acres of significant natural <br />areas and prime farmland with permanent conservation easements, leveraging over $3 <br />million in outside funding and grants toward these easements. <br /> <br />In June 2017, the Board approved County funding assistance for two purchases by the Eno <br />River Association (ERA). ERA was awarded funding from the Clean Water Management <br />Trust Fund for two fee-simple acquisitions of lands along the Upper Eno River corridor; the <br />56.3-acre Iski Property, and the 22.7-acre Hobgood Property. On June 6, 2017, a grant <br />agreement between Orange County and the ERA was executed, awarding ERA $63,655 for <br />the Iski Property purchase and $121,200 for the Hobgood Property purchase, contingent <br />upon the closing of the properties by ERA, and agreed upon terms of conservation <br />easements to be held by Orange County. <br /> <br />ERA has now closed on both properties and as per the June 2017 grant agreement, ERA <br />intends to grant permanent conservation easements on both properties to Orange County <br />that restrict future development, protect forest and water resources, and help maintain rural <br />character. <br />1