JMRPWG agenda 102898 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Primary Conservation Areas . Sensitive environmental resources, historically significant sites , and features considered unbuildable because of their limitations or inherent unsuitability for development are considered Primary Conservation Areas. When these resources are combined, they forma conservation network of 63 , 357 acres or 25 percent of the county ' s total land area. Secondary Conservation Areas. Within the second category of conservation areas, resources vary more widely in importance, vulnerability or fragility. Within each type of resource, there are examples of greater or lesser significance, whether one is looking at mature hardwood forests or stands Of young pines, prime farland soils or those of local importance,mportance, or portions of the county with a greater potential for archeological sites than others . These resources form a network of Secondary Conservation Areas of 124, 829 acres or 49 percent of the county' s total land area. While there is some overlap between Primary and Secondary Conservation Areas, the shear size of the land area occupied by these resources suggests that there is a role for a land trust in carrying out the goals of agricultural preservation, natural resource protection, historic preservation, and rural character protection in Orange County. Organizational Options The second point to consider in deciding whether to set up a local land trust is to determine if there is already a trust or other conservation organization in existence capable of acquiring and/or managing these resources . Three existing organizations are currently authorized by state and/or federal law to carry out these functions, including the Triang,L Land Conservancy, the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Orange County government . Each of these organizations is examined below to determine if they could fulfill this role . Triangle Land Conservancy. Operating in the Research Triangle region is the Triangle Land Conservancy, a nonprofit corporation working in six counties, including Orange County. From the purposes and criteria adopted by the organuzation, it appears that the Triangle Land Conservancy is a candidate for acquiring and/or managing Orange County ' s conservation resources . Justification is also evident in the Conservancy' s. record of acquisition and management . As of 1995 , 820 acres were protected in the six-county region, 406 of which were owned and 414 of whicli were managed under easement . Currently, in Orange County, the Conservancy owns 141 acres and manages another 171 acres under easement Even though the purposes and acquisition criteria of the Triangle Land Conservancy appear to be consistent with Orange County ' s preservation goals, the Conservancy ' s role may be a limited one . With a six- county region to serve, the Conservancy must be careful in its choice of sites to acquire and/or manage . Likewise, the Conservancy' s priorities are to add acreage to existing preserves and acquire land and easements along four major stream corridors, including one in Orange County . Given this focus, the Conservancy will probably play only a supporting role in the county . Soil & Water Conservation District. An alternative to a private nonprofit is a public agency such as the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District ( SWCD) . With the enactment of the Soil Conservation Districts Law in 1937, the North Carolina General Assembly 6