Minutes 03-02-2021 Virtual Business Meeting

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3 Ellen Perry Perrin de Jong said he is a Staff Attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity in Asheville. He said he wanted to speak about the Buckhorn Area Plan. He said his Center believes the Buckhorn Area Plan will threaten three species in a large area of the environment, and he is specifically concerned about Seven mile Creek. He said the Neuse River Waterdog, the Mad Tom catfish and the Atlantic Pigtoe muscle are all proposed to be listed as protected under the endangered species act. He urged the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to keep intact the status quo, and the Water and Sewer Management Planning and Boundary Agreement (WASMPBA). He said he submitted written topics, and urged the Board to review them. John Dempsey, read the following statement: I welcome the Buckhorn Area Plan as an opportunity to discuss the future of Sevenmile Creek. Much of the land classified as `developable' in the plan is problematic. Areas B and C have drainage directly into Sevenmile Creek and D uses Sevenmile Creek as its southern border. The December, 2020 draft of the Buckhorn Area Plan report states on page 30... "These parcels contain two threatened or endangered bivalves known to live in the Neuse drainages (including Sevenmile Creek). These species are threatened at a state level but are not a federally listed species. It is not thought that these species would significantly restrict development." This is misleading. In addition to the mussels mentioned there are two species whose habitats are on the Eno River, including a stretch that the United States Fish & Wildlife Service has proposed to Congress for protections under the Endangered Species Act. In addition to the Atlantic Pigtoe mussel there are the Carolina Madtom, a catfish, and the Neuse River waterdog, a salamander. Sevenmile Creek, is classified surface freshwater WS-11, a source clean enough for drinking water supply and is nutrient sensitive. It runs into the Eno River within one 20+ mile stretch of habitat that is currently under review for protection by Congress. More than 10 years into this process, and with a new Congress in place, protections to prevent the extinction of these North Carolina treasures could be characterized as "inches" away. Why should we care? It is estimated that at least 47 species have become extinct while awaiting final approval of protections under the Federal Endangered Species Act. It is the decisions made by local jurisdictions such as this Board that offer the only protection while this process of approval takes place. The Board of County Commissioners should make no decisions that would lead to lifting zoning that currently offers some protections for Sevenmile Creek. Orange County, North Carolina and US residents, property owners, mussels, catfish and salamanders would all benefit from studying conservancy options for the area surrounding our Class II gem, Sevenmile Creek. Rather than studying how to lift those slim protections under current zoning why not put concerned residents, the Committee for the Environment, Orange County staff and other resources to work studying options available that would guarantee owners interests while protecting this treasure for future generations.