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The Tract is located outside of the watershed critical area and is not <br /> needed for biosolids application . OWASA purchased the tract in 1982 <br /> to help compensate ( or mitigate ) for the loss of wildlife habitat <br /> resulting from the creation of Cane Creek Reservoir . The acquisition <br /> was a condition of the federal permit to construct the reservoir . <br /> The ERCD staff analysis of this property is focused on the potential use <br /> of the property for a park site that would be compatible with OWASA 's <br /> ( and the County 's ) interest in protecting the rural character and hence <br /> the water quality in Cane Creek watershed . The attached evaluation is <br /> based on the adopted Lands Legacy criteria for general and parkland <br /> acquisition . <br /> Unlike other properties evaluated by the Lands Legacy program , the <br /> mitigation tract does not need to be acquired for protection . OWASA <br /> purchased the site to protect , its conservation values , including <br /> watershed protection value and high - quality wildlife habitat . The issue <br /> now is whether to make all or a portion of the tract available for public <br /> recreation and , if so , for what kinds of uses ? <br /> The following points summarize staff's initial findings . <br /> 1 . The Mitigation Tract is a valuable property . The large size and high <br /> quality of this nearly unfragmented tract makes it a significant <br /> wildlife habitat . A large portion of the property was identified in a <br /> 1999 study as a core area for wildlife in Orange County . <br /> 2 . The physical characteristics of the Mitigation Tract make it highly <br /> suitable for public use and enjoyment for low - impact recreational <br /> uses ( e . g . , hiking / nature/jogging trails ) . An area just south of the <br /> Martin Road access and another within reach of the Buckhorn Road <br /> access could support active recreation , but it would require clearing <br /> mature pines and leveling the moderately sloped terrain . <br /> 3 . If opened for public use , the Mitigation Tract would provide a <br /> unique wilderness area for county residents , albeit somewhat <br /> similar to the County 's Seven Mile Creek Preserve ( 295 acres thus <br /> far ) located less than four miles away . <br /> 4 . OWASA has indicated that certain OWASA lands located outside of <br /> the watershed critical area may be suitable for use as parkland <br /> without compromising OWASA 's protection of watershed lands and <br /> maintaining its ability to provide high quality drinking water . This <br /> tract is located in the upper reaches of the watershed . <br /> Page 2 of 4 <br />