HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-15-2021; 12-3 - Memorandum - NC Mountains to Sea Trail Progress Report 1
ORANGE COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, AGRICULTURE,
PARKS AND RECREATION
MEMORANDUM
To: Board of County Commissioners
Bonnie Hammersley, County Manager
From: David Stancil, DEAPR Director
Christian Hirni, Land Conservation Manager
Date: June 15, 2021
Subject: NC Mountains to Sea Trail Progress Report
As an update on activity along the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) corridor, Land Conservation
Manager Christian Hirni -working with our trail partner organizations—reports the following activity
to further the MST project:
Occoneechee Mountain to Seven Mile Creek(Phase 1)
• County staff is working with Eno River Association to negotiate additional possible
connections from Dimmocks Mill Road to Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area
through either fee simple or trail easement options. Recent landowner interest in a
combined conservation/trail easement has the real potential to make this connection.
• The County received grant funding (with an extension through 2022) for acquisition of a
significant property for the Seven Mile Creek Natural Area. The MST may cross through a
section(s) of this property once purchased.
• The County has also received a grant award for a conservation easement adjacent to Seven
Mile Creek Natural Area. Final easement language is underway and will include a trail
easement to further connection from Seven Mile Creek Natural Area to the east.
• The State Property Office purchased a trail corridor with aid of Eno River Association and NC
Connect Bond funds.The State Parks division will manage the land as part of Occoneechee
Mountain State Natural Area and allow MST connection to the west(Hillsborough
Riverwalk).
• An additional letter of interest has been sent to landowner that could be the final piece
needed to connect Seven Mile Creek Natural Area to the east.
Cane Creek Reservoir Area (Phase 11)
• Secured a trail corridor and trailhead acquisition along NC 54 that will allow a safer trail
route by eliminating the need for the trail to run within the NC 54 right-of-way. Acquired a
trail easement(donation)to connect the trailhead to the Mebane-Oaks/NC 54 Intersection.
Provided extensive additional property boundary marking to mitigate any confusion of
County/private boundary lines, including boundary tree/shrub plantings to allow for added
privacy of adjacent landowner, and conducted first plantings.
Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation
PO Box 8181/306-A Revere Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-2510
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• Staff is working with OWASA staff and the Friends of the MST(FMST)to discuss specific trail
location possibilities, and whether changes will be needed to memoranda and adopted
conditions.
• Staff began discussion with a potential new landowner on Cane Creek Reservoir. Owner is
interested in granting a trail easement along the reservoir.
• Finalized and recorded easement amendments for OWASA and Clean Water Management
Trust Fund (CWMTF) easements on an interested landowner's property. Landowner has
announced intent on granting trail easement to connect OWASA lands at Cane Creek to a
public road along the adopted route. A draft trail easement is under review by the attorneys
for the parties.
• Final easement language is under review for a landowner donation trail easement. Staff has
followed up on multiple occasions to ensure continued landowner interest.
• Continue to meet with OWASA to discuss a potential partnership land acquisition.
Eno River State Park(ERSP)
• Note:State Parks, the Eno River Association and the FMST are coordinating in this segment
from Hillsborough Riverwalk eastward.
• The FMST and State Parks worked to secure a pedestrian walkway on the proposed new
NCDOT bridge over the Eno River at Pleasant Green Road. The new bridge is expected to be
completed around 2025 (before recent DOT budget issues) with a sidewalk. This will allow
nearly 4 additional miles of trail through Eno River State Park.
• FMST is following up with landowners to connect two portions of ERSP.
Next Steps:
• Follow-up with interested landowners in Cane Creek and Occoneechee/Seven Mile Creek
areas.
• Review of potential requests for modifications to OWASA's conditions for MST on OWASA-
owned land. Discuss specific trail location and construction details with OWASA staff.
• The FMST is posting road routes to allow hiking connections between existing and proposed
trail segments on their website.
In closing, it is important to note that negotiations of all trail easements involve a series of
discussions with landowners,their attorneys, and the County's environmental and legal staff and
management.The County must perform due diligence in any negotiation for acquisitions using
public funds. As such,there are occasions where conversations and information-gathering is
underway and necessary but not always visible to other interested parties, until the time for official
action as per State statutes.
Please let us know if we may provide additional information.
Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation
PO Box 8181/306-A Revere Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-2510