Agenda - 12-02-2002-9b - Laserfiche WebLink

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22 ORANGE COUNTY ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM To: Tina Moon, Land Use & Preservation Planner From: Rich Shaw, Land Conservation Manager Date: October 4, 2002 Re: Evaluation of Forest at Proposed Eno Ridge Subdivision (3.12..3) The purpose of this memo is to put in writing the things we discussed during this afternoon's visit to the site of the proposed Eno Ridge subdivision. I was asked to evaluate the condition of the forest relative to it being categorized as Prime Forest on a 1988 map found in the Orange County Comprehensive Plan. The most recent (1998) aerial orthophotos of the property indicate that the vast majority of the forested area is dominated by hardwoods (about 40 acres). The southeast corner appears to be predominantly pines (about 6 acres). The age and condition of the woodlands can only be determined on site. We entered the southeast corner of the property from an unimproved roadway off Frazier Road. From there we walked the perimeter of the tract and through representative areas of the forest. Throughout all of the woodlands, we saw evidence of selective timbering performed within the last 10 years. There were numerous stumps from mature pines and hardwoods that were harvested and removed. There was a large area (several acres) of young trees and undergrowth where walking was quite difficult. That area corresponds with a section marked as thicket on a site plan of the properly that you provided me. In fact, we found another smaller area of dense growth in the northwest section of the -tract that was not indicated on the plan. In short, it is my opinion that although sections of this property contain relatively mature hardwoods, the timbering that seems to have occurred sometime within the last decade has altered the property to the extent that I would no longer classify it as °prime forest." Let me know if you have any questions or would like to discuss further. cc: David Stancil