Agenda - 12-09-2003-8j - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: December 9, 2003 Action Age~ao Item No. _~_ SUBJECT: Consideration of Funding Support for Eno River Land Acquisitions DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Conservation ATTACHMENT INFORMATION CONTACT: September 15, 2003 and June 9, 2003 Letters David Stanch, 245-2590 from Eno River Association Rich Shaw, 245-2591 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider an appropriation of $55,000 to the Eno River Association toward preservation of two tracts along the Eno River -the Poplar Ridge and Eno Wilderness properties, BACKGROUND: For many years, the "Association for the Preservation of the Eno River Valley" (more commonly known as the Eno River Association) has worked with the N,C. Division of State Parks to help protect lands in Dtarham and Orange Counties along the Eno River. Approximately 1800 acres of land in Orange County is within Eno River State Park. In late 2002, the State Parks office announced an option to acquire 850 acres of land along the Eno River in eastern Orange County, This land, part of the "DuBose tract," contains hundreds of acres of identified Natural Heritage sites and is adjacent to the Eno River State Park, The Eno River Association pledged $50,000 toward this purchase. In addition, in early 2003, the Eno River Assocation signed an option to purchase the 137- acre Poplar Ridge tract along the Eno between US 70 and Lawrence Road, This is envisioned as the western terminus of the Eno River State Park, and the Association plans to sell the land to the State for inclusion in the State Park, In June and September of this year, a letter was received from the Association regarding these two projects and requesting the County's assistance in meeting the funding needs of these acquisitions (specifically, $25,000 towards the 850-acre Eno Wilderness and $30,000 to help close the gap in available funds for the purchase of the Poplar Ridge acquisition). The County would be recognized as a full partner in the acquisition collaborations.