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<br />Page 11 of 24 <br /> <br />spectrum of community members from Durham and <br />Orange counties, which was designed to foster <br />inclusivity and gather diverse input on local <br />environmental priorities. We collected survey data <br />from over 500 Festival for the Eno 2023 attendees <br />and conducted three focused community meetings. <br />The outcome of these meetings was inspiring, with <br />265 attendees contributing to the curation of 32 <br />maps adorned with 705 opportunity dots, alongside <br />over a thousand cards filled with ideas and <br />suggestions. Twenty percent of respondents (surveys <br />and meetings) identified as people of color. The <br />engagement process highlighted a shared vision for <br />enhancing natural beauty, recreational activities, <br />cultural and historical significance, community <br />connections, and accessibility to nature. This project <br />is meeting the needs identified from that process. <br />8. Please describe any potential negative side <br />effects of the project and describe the steps you <br />are taking/will take to eliminate or minimize <br />these impacts to any low‐income or marginalized <br />communities/households. <br />One potential negative side effect of creating or <br />stewarding a fire-maintained ecosystem is the health <br />impacts that smoke can have on sensitive <br />populations, particularly people with pre-existing <br />health conditions, children, and elderly people. <br />Because health conditions such as asthma often <br />occur at higher rates among low-income and <br />marginalized communities, it is especially important <br />to properly manage smoke from prescribed burns <br />and communicate with people who live or work <br />nearby. While the Confluence Natural Area is in a <br />portion of Orange County where population density is <br />low, Eno River Association will still take care to <br />identify any smoke-sensitive areas, including <br />residences, within the expected distance of smoke <br />dispersal, and prescribed burns will only be <br />conducted on days when wind impact will be low and <br />carry smoke away from these areas. Additionally, we <br />will notify by mail all the property owners within one <br />mile of the Confluence Natural Area to ensure that <br />they are able to discuss any concerns about <br />prescribed burning with ERA staff. Previous efforts to <br />alert neighbors for burning in the Confluence Natural <br />Area did not raise community concerns. <br />Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897