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5/ 26/ 99 2 . Wildlife Corridors In 1988 , the Triangle Land Conservancy developed an Inventory of &Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitats for Orange County . In identifying 64 of the most significant sites countywide , the Inventory also identified and addressed the importance of preserving wildlife corridors. along selected streams and ridges as connectors . These connectors provide habitat and allow migrating wildlife to move between larger open land masses and water bodies . In many of these corridors a primitive trail system exists , formed by years of use , by wildlife and local hikers , although many of the lands in the corridor are privately - . . . - . . held . The need . for this green skeleton will increase in the future as development continues to occur . The proposed_ wildlife corridor network in the 1988 Inventory connects . the Gordan Lake lands to University Lake , and Cane Creek Reservoir to the . Eno . River and Little P . River . This corridor has been incorporated in the - Or : County Comprehensive Plan . as part of the Resource Protection Area category . Much of the wildlife corridor lies . * within floodplain * or poorly - drained land that would not be developed ; but important, overland connectors exist along several ridges . Attempts to protect this corridor in Its natural state are currently pursued through the County `s voluntary Flexible Development ordinance . Other corridors may also , be . important to + the & natural eco - system and wildlife habitat . 3 . Linkages between Greenways and Linear Parks There are clear distinctions between greenways, designed for human recreational use and wildlife corridors to - ' be maintained in , a natural state . A third component of the system is the existing / planned network of open space in the County , ' areas such as Eno River State Park , Duke Forest , and the planned Riverwalk in Hillsborough . These areas are apparent as " nodes " or junctions in the green infrastructure of the . County, often connected . by stream or wildlife corridors . This type of network also exists in the urban . areas , where greenways serve to connect many Town parks . As the County and towns continue to grow and develop, retention of a green corridor concept will - be Important . Additionally , ways to link : rural linear parks and open space accessible to ` the public to Town greenways at a few key6 junctions could greatly expand low = impact recreational opportunities . Identification of strategic corridors ( rural trail links ) that can tie these pieces of the open space network will be needed in the long -term.. 21