Orange County NC Website
2 <br /> • Staff is working with OWASA staff and the Friends of the MST(FMST)to discuss specific trail <br /> location possibilities, and whether changes will be needed to memoranda and adopted <br /> conditions. <br /> • Staff began discussion with a potential new landowner on Cane Creek Reservoir. Owner is <br /> interested in granting a trail easement along the reservoir. <br /> • Finalized and recorded easement amendments for OWASA and Clean Water Management <br /> Trust Fund (CWMTF) easements on an interested landowner's property. Landowner has <br /> announced intent on granting trail easement to connect OWASA lands at Cane Creek to a <br /> public road along the adopted route. A draft trail easement is under review by the attorneys <br /> for the parties. <br /> • Final easement language is under review for a landowner donation trail easement. Staff has <br /> followed up on multiple occasions to ensure continued landowner interest. <br /> • Continue to meet with OWASA to discuss a potential partnership land acquisition. <br /> Eno River State Park(ERSP) <br /> • Note:State Parks, the Eno River Association and the FMST are coordinating in this segment <br /> from Hillsborough Riverwalk eastward. <br /> • The FMST and State Parks worked to secure a pedestrian walkway on the proposed new <br /> NCDOT bridge over the Eno River at Pleasant Green Road. The new bridge is expected to be <br /> completed around 2025 (before recent DOT budget issues) with a sidewalk. This will allow <br /> nearly 4 additional miles of trail through Eno River State Park. <br /> • FMST is following up with landowners to connect two portions of ERSP. <br /> Next Steps: <br /> • Follow-up with interested landowners in Cane Creek and Occoneechee/Seven Mile Creek <br /> areas. <br /> • Review of potential requests for modifications to OWASA's conditions for MST on OWASA- <br /> owned land. Discuss specific trail location and construction details with OWASA staff. <br /> • The FMST is posting road routes to allow hiking connections between existing and proposed <br /> trail segments on their website. <br /> In closing, it is important to note that negotiations of all trail easements involve a series of <br /> discussions with landowners,their attorneys, and the County's environmental and legal staff and <br /> management.The County must perform due diligence in any negotiation for acquisitions using <br /> public funds. As such,there are occasions where conversations and information-gathering is <br /> underway and necessary but not always visible to other interested parties, until the time for official <br /> action as per State statutes. <br /> Please let us know if we may provide additional information. <br /> Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation <br /> PO Box 8181/306-A Revere Road <br /> Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br /> (919) 245-2510 <br />