Orange County NC Website
Lands Legacy Action Plan 2004 -06 adopted 9121104 <br />on those properties. Pursue the protection of other important historic and <br />archaeological sites (e.g., Murphey School) whenever possible. Protect <br />"heritage corridors" and other areas of cultural /scenic value (e.g., St. Mary's <br />Road). Acquire sites with historic structures as long as Orange County can <br />allocate adequate funds to ensure proper stewardship of those structures. <br />Involve the HPC in matters concerning historic structures on County lands. <br />The following are more specific acquisition objectives developed from existing plans, <br />discussions with land conservation partners, in some cases expanding upon or <br />refining advisory board recommendations. These are not listed in priority order. <br />A. Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitat <br />• Work with partners to protect (through acquisition or other means) the higher <br />priority Natural Areas as identified in the Inventory of Significant Natural Areas <br />(2004 update), including Mason Farm Oak - Hickory Forest (M10) <br />• Protect the highest priority prime forest areas identified in A Landscape With <br />Wildlife: Part 2 (Wiley, Ludington and Hall, 1999) <br />• Work with the Eno River Association and others to protect (through acquisition <br />and other means) critical land for the Seven Mile Creek Preserve and a wildlife <br />corridor that connects to the Cane Creek reservoir <br />Work with the Eno River Association and others to protect (through acquisition <br />and other means) other priority riparian lands and upland habitats in the Upper <br />Eno River watershed critical area and lands adjacent to Eno River State Park <br />• Work with Triangle Land Conservancy and others to protect (through acquisition <br />and other means) priority riparian lands and central county prime forest lands <br />located in the Upper New Hope Creek watershed <br />• Work with the Town of Carrboro, University of NC and the Friends of Bolin Creek <br />to identify priority lands for potential protection (through acquisition and other <br />means) the Bolin Creek corridor (B01). <br />B. Farmland Preservation <br />• Work with the USDA /Natural Resource Conservation Service and Orange Soil and <br />Water District, and OWASA to identify and prioritize willing seller(s) and donor(s) <br />of conservation easements in Cane Creek, Upper Eno River, University Lake, <br />Little River and Back Creek watersheds. (Where possible, build a critical mass of <br />contiguous farm easements in these watersheds.) <br />• Preserve farmland that also contains riparian buffers to help meet multiple <br />conservation objectives <br />• Work with USDA /Natural Resource Conservation Service to secure grant funds <br />from the federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program for acquiring <br />conservation easements <br />3 <br />