Orange County NC Website
{{ r <br /> CCp , L <br /> y nv r r 1 <br /> � t; <br /> i- Finally , there is a significant lack of coordination of protection efforts with surrounding <br /> counties . Forests , watersheds , wildlife corridors and development projects do not abruptly <br /> stop at county borders . Efforts in one location may be impeded by lack of effort in a <br /> neighboring county or vice versa . Effective protection of resources must include coordinated <br /> effort among all the affected jurisdictions . <br /> IV . Needs and Recommended Actions to Protect Biological Diversity in <br /> Orange County . <br /> P <br /> A . Highest Priority Areas for Conservation Effort . <br /> P <br /> Overall , we feel the County should aim to ensure that at least 10 % of its land , or 25 , 600 <br /> acres , is in some form of designated protected status within the next 10 years . This goal is <br /> reasonable and achievable , especially if the proposed increases in state and federal funds for open <br /> space acquisition become available to supplement local government fiends dedicated for this <br /> purpose . If state and federal funds are not increased, a 15 - year goal would be recommended . P <br /> Based on currently available information (biological inventory, Natural Heritage data and <br /> both TLC reports ) , we present the following areas as a first approximation of those highest <br /> conservation priority areas for the County, in order of importance , and subject to further review <br /> and change by the BRC and the ERCD ( Table 3 ) . Primary criteria used in amving at this list <br /> include size , composition , biological distinctness , degree of threat , and connectivity to other <br /> p � � Y <br /> areas . <br /> Table g g <br /> 3 . Highest priority areas for conservation action m Orange County . A First <br /> Approximation <br /> 1 . Lands surrounding Eno River State Park <br /> 2 . Occoneechee Mountain buffer <br /> 3 . Sevenmile Creek Bottoms <br /> �I <br /> 4 . Lands along Morgan Creek and those surroundm g� Mason Farm <br /> ills , and Corridor : Blackwood Mountain/Duke 5 . Central County Forest , H <br /> Forest Blackwood Division/ Meadow Flats /Bald Mountain/Pegg Hill , and <br /> connecting lands <br /> 6 . New Hope Creek Corridor, including upper section which connects to the <br /> Central County Forest , Hills , and Comdor ( see # 5 , above) <br /> 7 . Chestnut Ridge <br /> 8 . River corridors : Upper Eno River , N and S forks of the Little River <br /> 9 . Forest southwest of Cedar Grove <br /> 10 . Pickard ' s Mountain <br /> Justifications : <br /> 1 . Lands surrounding Eno River State Park ( ERSP ) : This area is identified in L`37W - I and - II as the <br /> 8 <br />