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55 <br /> • Wetlands and adjoining land areas identified as part of the NWI map for the county,the county's <br /> USDA soil survey,the county natural areas inventory, a required environmental assessment or <br /> environmental impact statement, and/or a site analysis by a relevant professional using data from <br /> USAGE. <br /> • Areas identified in the Orange County"Inventory of Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitats" <br /> • 100-year floodplains and alluvial soils identified as part of the county's flood map and/or soil <br /> survey. <br /> • Steep slopes, defined as slopes greater than 25% and identified as part of the county's soil survey <br /> or a site analysis by a relevant professional using data from USACE. <br /> • Natural areas and/or wildlife habitats identified as part of the county's natural areas inventory, a <br /> required environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, and/or an independent <br /> study conducted by a trained botanist and/or biologist. <br /> • Wildlife corridors as identified in the county's comprehensive plan. <br /> • Historic and archaeological sites. <br /> Secondary Open Space Areas can be chosen for access or composition, and compositional criteria <br /> include,but are not limited to: <br /> • Woodlands, including lands for production of timber where selective harvesting and wildlife <br /> enhancement practices are used. <br /> • Farmland. <br /> • Slopes of 15%to 25%. <br /> • Greenbelt linkages within an approved county greenbelt program. <br /> Orange County ordinances also require 50-foot buffers on perennial and intermittent streams, although in <br /> protected and critical watershed areas,the buffer will be wider depending on ground cover and slope <br /> steepness,up to 150 feet. <br /> PLANNING &COLLABORATION <br /> The Land Use Element of the comprehensive plan emphasizes intergovernmental coordination of land <br /> use planning to create a sustainable land use pattern, including courtesy review and continuing an active <br /> dialogue with the towns. <br /> The Natural& Cultural Systems Element provides many policies to encourage the county to work with <br /> partners to achieve its natural resources protection goals: <br /> • The Natural Areas,Wildlife Habitat, and Prime Forests component calls for"a comprehensive <br /> natural areas and open space conservation plan"that addresses threats to important natural areas <br /> and rare species, connectivity between protected areas,coordination with neighboring counties <br /> and conservation partners,and the sustainable management of critical natural resources (Goal 8, <br /> Objective NA-11). <br /> • "The goals and objectives are the framework for the County to work with local land trusts, <br /> institutions, and private landowners to preserve a natural network of lands in the County and to <br /> ensure long-term environmental sustainability of its natural systems." <br /> • Interjurisdictional Coordination: "Natural and cultural resources know no political boundaries. As <br /> such, coordination both within Orange County government and with other area jurisdictions is of <br /> paramount importance." <br /> • Intragovernmental: "The Commission for the Environment(CFE)is charged to advise the Board <br /> of Commissioners on matters affecting the environment,particularly the topical areas of air <br /> quality,water resources and natural areas/biological resources, as well as environmental <br /> education." <br /> 42 A Landscape Plan for Wildlife Habitat Connectivity <br />