Agenda - 10-14-2008 - late 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lands Legacy Action Plan (2008-2010) Implications and Needed Actions (if pursued) . Creating the primary route through Orange County will require working with a number of private property owners. This is true whether the primary route or the proposed alternate route along the US 70/rail corridor is ultimately used. Staff estimates that the primary route through Orange County will require working with approximately 30-35 property owners, unless roadways are used as an alternative (please see Map 2). A road-based alternative will require work with NCDOT and is not the preference of the State Parks office. There are four segments in Orange County that are privately held: ® Segment 1 -From the Haw River along Cane Creek to the Cane Creek reservoir (approximately 2.5 miles in length). • Segment 2 -From OWASA lands north of the Cane Creek Reservoir to the County's Seven Mile Creek Preserve lands (approximately 6 miles in length. This is the longest overland privately-owned segment). ® Segment 3 - A short segment from the County's Seven Mile Creek Preserve to Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area (approximately 1.5 miles). ® Segment 4 - A segment along the Eno River from Orange County's River Park in Hillsborough to the Ayr Mount properties to the beginning of Eno River State Park lands at US 70 East (approximately 2 miles in length). As a primary objective of the State Parks system, acquisition of land and subsequent trail construction is expected to be a top funding priority for State grant sources such as the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, the NC State Trails Program, and the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund. At this time the State is looking to local governments, land trusts and future developments along the corridor to provide land for the trail. Although State Parks may step in to acquire lands on their own (such as expanding Eno River State Park as opportunities arise), their expressed interest is that local governments and land trusts take an active role with the State providing funding assistance. The cost of acquiring land for the primary trail corridor in Orange County is unknown, especially given the variety of methods that can be used to establish the trail through public or private property. Other issues that will need to be considered are the long-term management of the completed trail and the pursuit of other trail segments for the alternative MST routes that have been identified along the US 70 /Southern Rail corridor and between Duke Forest (Kortian Division) and Eno River State Park. Conclusion. The MST route through Orange County is a daunting task. Substantial infusions of State funds, and several years will be needed to accomplish the task. Coordination