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2 <br />Highlights of the 2008-10 Action Plan are shown on the table on pages 8-10 (and <br />illustrated in general on the map at the end of the document), and include: <br />- Acquire land for a future Bingham Township park, working with OWASA if feasible; <br />- Continue to acquire portions of Natural Heritage sites and water quality critical lands for <br />additions to the Seven Mile Creek Preserve; <br />- Acquire unprotected portions of Natural Heritage sites of national or state significance <br />(Meadow Flats, Currie Hill, Mason Farm Oak-Hickory Forest) with other partners; <br />- Continue to acquire agricultural conservation easements from willing farmers to protect <br />prime farmland in water supply watersheds (with state and federal matching funds); <br />- Work with landowners interested in granting conservation easements in the Halls Mill <br />historic area along the Eno River; <br />- Protect riparian buffers in Upper Eno watershed.; apply for grants to offset County costs <br />A list of the accomplishments of the Lands Legacy Program over the first eight years of <br />the program is provided as Appendix 1 (including a map of those sites). <br />Three issue papers are attached (Appendices 2, 3 and 4) that reflect policy topics that <br />staff would like to bring to the Board's attention. Direction on some topics, such as the <br />Mountains-to-Sea Trail and potential Upper Eno Nature Preserve, would be instructive to <br />staff. Research on these issues is ongoing for further discussion with the Board at a later <br />date. Finally, the status of funding sources is provided as Appendix 5. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funds towards priority projects over the two fiscal years (2008-10) <br />are present in the CIP (as both existing year and programmed future year expenditures). <br />These include appropriations from the Lands Legacy Fund (2001 Parks and Open Space <br />bonds), Conservation Easements Fund (Board-approved financing for conservation <br />easements), and the Lands Legacy Opportunities Fund (pay-as-you-go funding). Where <br />identified, the proposed funding source is listed in the attached Action Plan. For many <br />projects ERCD seeks grant funds from a variety of state and federal sources. Thus far <br />Orange County has received 11 grants totaling $4.1 million for the acquisition of lands <br />through the Lands Legacy Program. <br />In some cases, such as conservation easements and potential new projects, adequate <br />funding may not exist to accomplish all of the proposed projects, necessitating further <br />prioritization and/or additional funding in future years. <br />Final decisions on funding for land acquisitions are made by the Board on a project-by- <br />project basis, as potential purchases are presented for approval. As in previous <br />acquisitions, in each case separate project budgets with specific funding streams and <br />amounts will be addressed at the time of purchase approval. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board: <br />a) Receive the draft Lands Legacy Program Action Plan for fiscal years 2008-2010 <br />and provide feedback to staff for further refinement and adoption.. The revised plan <br />would be placed on an upcoming agenda for formal approval; and <br />b) Consider the issue papers presented, and provide guidance to Staff for further <br />consideration and prioritization, as desired. <br />