Orange County NC Website
ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THF. ENO RIVER VALLEY <br />4419 Guess Road, Durham, NC 27712 <br />1'h: (919) 620-9099 www enoriver. org Pax:(919) 477-0448 <br />June 9, 2003 <br />Margaret Brown, Chair <br />Orange County Commissioacrs <br />P.O..Box 8181 <br />Hillsborough, N. C. 27278 <br />RE: Protecting Ckange County lands <br />Madam Chair, <br />Orange County is a vita! partner with the Eno River Association for conservation within the <br />county, from the Little River Regional Park w the Upper Eno River conservation project. The <br />Eno River Association values Orange Courrt}rs commitment to the preservation of special natural <br />areas and open space within the cotmty. Cutmntly the Association is working on two very <br />important conservation projects within Orange C.oumy, and it is our hope that Orange County will <br />once again extend its hand in parwership. <br />The 815-acre Eno Wilderness is a critical land acquisition for both Orange County and for the <br />Eno River Stale Park. This Lead is now under option by the state, for the purpose of acquiring it <br />for the Eno River State Park. This option expires in December of 2003.. In order to assist NC <br />Parks & Recreation as they work to secure the $6.5 million funding needed for this project, the <br />Association committed the initial $50,400 in funding, The Orange County Board of <br />Commissioners expressed their support far this project earlier this year, and the Association is <br />now hoping that The Board will consider appropriations toward this very important land <br />acquisition project With over 2 miles of Eno River fromage, pristine wilderness, miles of streams <br />and 800 beaartifirl acres of wildlife habitat, the Eno Wilderness is a project that we cannot afford <br />to lose. We would like Orange County to share that commitment and to appropriate $25,000 <br />toward this prajecf, so that together we can help ensure that the Wilderness project becomes a <br />teality_ Jt is an mrparaUeled opporhmity to prated open space in the county., We ask that the <br />appropriation be made to the State of North Carolina, payable at the time of purchase, as half of <br />the commitment made by the Eno River Association. We will ensure that Orange Coumy gets <br />recognition as a full partner in the collaboration.. <br />In addition, Ure Eno River Association is currently under contract to purr~ase the 137-acre Poplar <br />Ridge tract, which contains idemified an Orange County nazural inventory site (Poplar Ridge), <br />wildlife corridors and prime riparian habitat along the Eno. This tract is lorxxed near <br />Hillsborough, between [IS 70 and Lawrence Road, along the southern bank of the Eno. It will <br />serve as the western terminus for the Eno River State Park artd have hiking trails and public river <br />access. We will be able to sell the land to the State ofNorth Carolina, but the sale price will be <br />approximately $50,000 less tiles our costs. We request drat Orange County appropriate <br />$30,000 to the Eno River Assocation to contribute toward the 51.6 million dollar purchase <br />price. <br />The Asrocrmiort.forLhe Presrrvminn n/'rhe Ern Ricer Yallnt also lJromn uv the 'Tun Rh~er AS£OCNUIaR,' «'ur orgnniiad in 1 JGS <br />nnAfnrnrpomr<d in J075 nt a tar-tannp6 nwo-Profit ewporarinn to tn,...~crvc urtd prutcci dm n,vural. Itistnrical, and Cidlwrid <br />resources ojrhe Enn Ri»er Baxin. <br />