Agenda - 09-02-2003-5b - Laserfiche WebLink

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Steep Bottom Branch Conservation Easement 7-11-03 draft 6 C. The Easement Area is a significant natural area that qualifies in its present condition as a "...relatively natural habitat of fish, wildlife, or plants, or similar ecosystem," as that phrase is used in P.L. 96-541, 26 UCS 170(h)(A)(ii), as amended, and in regulations promulgated thereunder. Specifically, the Easement Area is habitat for a variety of native plants and animals described for this area on Pages 156-157 of the Inventory of the Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitats of Orange County, North Carolina, written by Dawson Sather and Stephen Hall in December 1988 and conducted for the Triangle Land Conservancy in coordination with the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. Steep Bottom Branch, for which this site is named, is one of the headwaters of New Hope Creek. According to the Natural Heritage Inventory, the ravine is one of the deepest in this part of Orange County and has an extensive north-facing slope that contains a good example of mixed mesic hardwood forest, dominated by beech, red oak, white oak and tulip poplar. The narrow bottomland along the branch is rich with more than 60 plant species, including walnut, bitternut hickory, and southern sugar maple. On the opposite side of the ravine, along the southern exposures, the forest changes to a dry oak-hickory forest. Following is an excerpt from the Natural Heritage Inventory: "Reasons for significance: The deep ravine present on this site contains a relatively undisturbed mixed mesic hardwood forest. Apart from its biological value, it is part of one of the county's oldest farms still occupied by descendants of the original settlers. This farm is the most scenic along Old NC 86, itself one of our most aesthetically pleasing secondary roads." The Easement Area also contributes to the open space and rural character of this northern section of Chapel Hill Township and the "Rural Buffer" so classified on the Orange County Zoning Ordinance and located between the towns of Hillsborough to t:he north and Chapel Hill and Carrboro to the south. It is a further purpose of the Easement to help to protect the rural character and open space of the Rural Buffer in northern Chapel Hill Township. The natural habitat of the Grantor's Property, and its contribution to the protection of the open space and rural character are collectively referred to as the "conservation values" of the Easement Area. D. The characteristics of the Easement Area, its current use and state of improvement, are described in a report entitled "Baseline Report on the Property," dated , 200_ (hereafter "the Baseline Report";) prepared by for the Grantor, of which a summary is attached as Exhibit A to this Conservation Easement. The Grantor worked with the Grantee to ensure that the report is a complete and accurate description of the Easement Area as of the date of this Conservation Easement. It will be used by the Grantor and Grantee to assure that any future changes in the use of the Easement Area will be consistent with the terms of this Conservation Easement. However, the Baseline Report is not