Agenda - 04-28-2005-1a1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Proposals for Hunting on OWASA Property April 22, 2005 Page 2 of 4 Tract. OWASA staff was directed to discuss this with WRC staff and to report back to the NRTS Committee and other Board members. • On February 8, 2005, WRC staff indicated their general concurrence with the NRTS Committee proposal, and OWASA staff promptly transmitted this information to all Board members. • On February 10, 2005, the NRTS Committee agreed that OWASA should proceed with a public meeting in early March to share the proposal with local community members and other stakeholders. • On February 15, 2005, the Orange County Board of Commissioners expressed the County's ongoing interest in the future conjunctive use of OWASA's Mitigation Tract for low- impact passive recreational activities. • A public meeting was co- hosted on March 8, 2005 by OWASA and WRC at the Cane Creels Baptist Church Activity Center on Buckhorn Road. More than 50 citizens attended. Neighbors of the Mitigation Tract generally opposed the hunting proposal, while hunters supported it. Most of the hunters favored a more extensive program than proposed and urged that the Cane Creek Reservoir be opened for hunting as well. • On March 10, 2005, the OWASA Board received a report about the public meeting; several citizens expressed opposition or support of the proposal; and the Board referred the matter back to the NRTS Committee for further consideration and recommendations. • In an April 8, 2005 letter to OWASA, the WRC's Executive Director stated that the Commission was not satisfied that OWASA had met the mitigation provisions of the 404 Permit, and that the WRC intended to initiate hunting programs on both the Mitigation Tract and the Cane Creek Reservoir in the Fall of 2005. • On April 14, 2005, two of three NRTS Committee members recommended proceeding with an archery -only deer hunting program on the southerrunost portion of the Mitigation Tract with no waterfowl hunting on the reservoir. The third Committee member stated her opposition to any hunting on any OWASA property • OWASA's Executive Director requested and met with the WRC Executive Director and associates on April 20, 2005 to exchange information and better understand each other's position. Among other items, WRC staff explained their early May publication deadline for the 2005 -2006 Gamelands hunting program, maps, and calendar.