Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
31 <br /> Model Conservation Easement Revised <br /> The grant of this Conservation Easement will further said wish, and will serve the <br /> following"Conservation Purposes," as such term is defined in Section 170 (h)(4)(A) of the <br /> Code: <br /> The Easement Area contains a natural area that qualifies in its present condition as <br /> a"...relatively natural habitat of fish, wildlife, or plants, or similar ecosystem," as that phrase is <br /> used in P.L. 96-541, 26 USC 170(h)(A)(ii), as amended, and in regulations promulgated <br /> thereunder. Specifically, the Easement Area contains a portion of the North Carolina Natural <br /> Heritage Program inventoried occurrence of the Seven Mile Creek Natural Area, and the riparian <br /> areas associated with an extent of Rocky Run and its tributaries. <br /> The Easement Area also consists of productive agricultural land and forest land. The <br /> majority of the soils on the Property have been classified as "prime" or"statewide important" <br /> soils by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (MRCS). Another primary purpose of this <br /> Easement is to protect the green space, silvicultural and agricultural soils, and agricultural and <br /> silvicultural viability and productivity. <br /> The Easement Area also includes land within a zone designated by Orange County as a <br /> "critical area" of a protected water supply watered for Lake Ben Johnson Reservoir. Another <br /> primary purpose of this Easement is to protect the undeveloped nature of the Grantor's Property <br /> and, in doing so,help protect the high quality of that drinking water supply serving the people of <br /> Orange County. <br /> The Easement Area also contributes to the open space and rural character of Cheeks <br /> Township and the Upper Eno Protected Watershed, so classified in the Orange County Zoning <br /> Ordinance. It is a further purpose of this Easement to help protect the rural character and open <br /> space of Cheeks Township. <br /> The Easement Area provides land areas for outdoor recreation by, or the education of, the <br /> general public, specifically the Moorefields Home and Grounds (c. 1785) listed on the National <br /> Registry of Historic Places, and a trail corridor for the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail. <br /> The agricultural resources of the Property, and its contribution to the protection of prime <br /> farmland soils, a public water supply, natural and wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, and the <br /> other conservation interests described herein to be preserved by this Conservation Easement are <br /> collectively referred to as the "Conservation Values" of the Property. <br /> The Grantor and Grantees agree that the current uses of the Easement Area are consistent <br /> with the conservation purposes of this Conservation Easement. The conservation purposes of this <br /> easement, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, are also recognized by, and <br /> this Conservation Easement will also serve, the following clearly delineated governmental <br /> conservation policies: <br /> Page 3 of 22 <br />