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3 <br /> The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has recently published a conservation plan <br /> to direct management activities for three freshwater mussels in addition to the Carolina Madtom <br /> and the Neuse River Waterdog within the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico river basins. Published <br /> December 10, 2020, this is in addition to the Federal Endangered Species protections proposed <br /> by the US Fish & Wildlife Service and currently under review in Congress. Titled: The <br /> Conservation Plan for Five Rare Aquatic Species Restricted to the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico <br /> River Basins in North Carolina it calls for "Establishing and maintaining working relationships <br /> between governing bodies (federal, state, and local), universities, private landowners, private <br /> companies, and conservation organizations" such as the Triangle Land Conservancy, to explore <br /> conservation easements and other strategies for protecting these five species from extinction <br /> over the next 100 years. It plans for the release of Carolina Madtoms into the Upper Eno <br /> watershed. Also, it is of note that all of Sevenmile Creek, along with the first and second order <br /> creeks that feed into it, are included in the range of the Neuse River Waterdog as defined by <br /> the US Fish and Wildlife Service. <br /> If you come up the Eno River, into the South Fork Little River and then on into Sevenmile <br /> Creek, the areas defined in the Buckhorn Area Plan as parcels B, C & D, look like they are <br /> already developed, just fine. <br /> A comprehensive land use plan would identify and address its environmental impact. In my <br /> opinion, the Buckhorn Area Plan is not a land use plan but rather a real estate marketing plan. <br /> If adopted it would set a path for industrial and manufacturing development resulting in the <br /> degradation of a critical watershed and Hillsborough's municipal water supply. In addition, the <br /> Buckhorn Area Plan would set goals for land use that would be in direct opposition to people <br /> and organizations, including those in the North Carolina State government, whose jobs include <br /> working to protect this environmental resource for us all. <br /> Why not ask the Committee for the Environment to study the short and long term environmental <br /> impact of the Buckhorn Area Plan? And why weren't Orange County residents at the table <br /> earlier to participate in the discussion of an area so critical to their health and welfare? <br /> Shouldn't we be protecting the headwaters of Hillsborough's municipal water supply? There is <br /> currently zoning in place that allows plenty of time to study and address the serious <br /> environmental questions raised but left unanswered in the Buckhorn Area Plan. <br /> Fiona Johann read the following letter: <br /> Good evening, <br /> I'm Fiona Johann and I live in Orange County. I am here again for public comment because I <br /> believe it is important for citizens in the area to stay informed on how things are progressing <br /> with the Buckhorn Area Plan. <br /> The last time I spoke during a public comment on March 2, 1 asked that two items come out of <br /> the March 9 joint working session with the Orange County BOCC and Mebane City Council <br /> concerning the BAP. <br /> The first, and I believe the most important ask, was for a clear plan on public engagement on <br /> the proposed Buckhorn Area Plan. The second was for the two governments to consider a <br /> binding agreement on a joint area plan. I understand that the commissioners and city council <br /> have different priorities, but I had truly hoped that while in a 90 minute zoom discussion with 7 <br /> commissioners and 6 council members, with over 220 collective years of civic responsibilities <br />