HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 11-14-23; 12-4 - Information Item - Memorandum - NC Mountains to Sea Trail Progress 1
ORANGE COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, AGRICULTURE,
PARKS AND RECREATION
MEMORANDUM
To: David Stancil, DEAPR Director
From: Christian Hirni, Land Conservation Manager
Date: November 14th, 2023
Subject: NC Mountains to Sea Trail Progress Report
As an update on activity along the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) corridor, I have been working with
our trail partner organizations and interested landowners and can report the following activity to
further the MST project.To protect landowner confidentiality, most properties are not referred to
by name:
Occoneechee Mountain to Seven Mile Creek Natural Area (Phase 1)
• Staff and the Eno River Association (ERA) continue final negotiations with the landowners
for a conservation/trail easement that will make the connection from Occoneechee
Mountain State Natural Area to Dimmocks Mill Road. Both State and City of Raleigh grants
have been awarded to provide funds for the project. County staff is assisting ERA in
acquiring and drafting all closing documents for presentation in a future BOCC open session
and subsequent State review. Staff also continue discussions with State and private
nonprofit partners to confirm the final route and connection through State Parks-owned
land to be included in a trail easement.
• The previously approved conservation and trail easement from the Draper-Savage
Foundation (Moorefields), adjacent to Seven Mile Creek Natural Area, is under final state
legal review and awaiting schedule for closing, after a delay due to property ownership
changes.The closing attorney has been hired, and all closing documents and easements
have been provided to the State for approval which is anticipated at any time. The closing is
estimated for fall/winter 2023.
• Negotiations continue with landowners for a fee-simple acquisition that will be the final
piece needed to connect Seven Mile Creek Natural Area to the east.The County has recently
been awarded a grant from the NC Land and Water fund that will cover 50%of the
acquisition costs, and more grant sources are being researched and reviewed for availability.
Staff will be working with Eno River Association to draft the final closing documents and
budget to be presented in a future BOCC open session after State review is completed.
Cane Creek Reservoir Area (Phase 11)
• Staff continues to work with OWASA staff and the Friends of the MST(Friends)to determine
the optimal trail route through OWASA Cane Creek Reservoir lands (permitted by OWASA in
2018 with conditions). A meeting was held with OWASA for this purpose, and bimonthly
updates between staff and OWASA staff continue to occur. Staff are working to finalize an
Emergency Access and Management Plan for this proposed section of trail with Emergency
Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation
PO Box 8181/306-A Revere Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-2510
2
Services,the Sheriff's Office, and other first response agencies. Once these plans are in draft
stage,work will begin to finalize the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between
OWASA and Orange County for the trail. This is anticipated to occur concurrently with the
closing of the three trail easements in the Cane Creek Reservoir region, planned in the late
spring-summer 2024.
• Previously approved landowner-donated trail easements with the Shy and Johnson families
continue to move toward closing. (Note—both landowners requested modifications to their
approved easement language and/or new survey work, which has delayed both closings.) in
one case,the landowner asked for additional modifications to the original approved
agreement, delaying the closing to accommodate their requests.
• As mentioned in the last MST update, staff continues discussions with a third landowner on
Cane Creek Reservoir.This owner is interested in granting a trail easement(which is
provided for in their deed of purchase) on land recently acquired adjacent to the reservoir
and along the trail route. At the landowner's request, discussions will continue in the next
few months after the landowner has completed construction of their home.
Buckhorn Road to Seven Mile Creek Natural Area (Phase III)
• NOTE: This segment of the trail is slated in the C/P for FY 2027-28 and beyond. No activity is
currently underway here, other than conversations with Friends of the Mountains to Sea
Trail (Friends)and occasional landowners.
• Discussion with Friends staff about potential interim connections along road routes (or a
future alternate spur route) continues. There is conversation in the early stages with one
landowner and the Friends along a likely interim road route.
Eno River State Park(ERSP)to Durham County(Other Lead Entities)
Note:State Parks, the Eno River Association and the Friends are coordinating in this segment from
Hillsborough Riverwalk eastward to Durham County. Orange County is assisting as needed and
requested.
• Orange County previously agreed to help the Friends with funding assistance from existing
sources for a bridge crossing project on Cates Creek from Hillsborough Riverwalk to Eno
River State Park.The project has been completed by FMST, and the requested County funds
are conveyed.
• 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
provide access to nearly four additional miles of trail through Eno River State Park.
• FMST, State and County staff successfully petitioned the NCDOT to ensure the trail path be
included underneath the newly rebuilt US 70 Bridge east of Hillsborough.
• The Friends and ERA are following up with landowners to connect the trail between two
portions of ERSP.
Next Steps:
• Close the Moorefields trail easement once State review is finished.
• Complete easements and acquisitions with interested landowners in Cane Creek and
Occoneechee Mountain/Seven Mile Creek Natural Area locations. Complete recent
landowner-initiated revisions.
Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation
PO Box 8181/306-A Revere Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-2510
3
• Continue discussion of specific trail location and construction details with OWASA staff.
Begin drafting, with Emergency Services and Sheriff's Office, an Emergency Access and
Management Plan for the Cane Creek Reservoir sections.
• The Friends are planning to post road routes to allow hiking connections between existing
and proposed trail segments on their website.
• The Friends and County staff are discussing future possibilities for coordinated outreach and
ombudsman work for the MST segments in Orange County.
In closing, it is important to note that negotiations of all trail easements and trail land segments
involve a sometimes-lengthy series of discussions with landowners, their attorneys, the County's
environmental and legal staff and management, and finally State review and approval where State
funds are involved. The County must perform due diligence in any negotiation for acquisitions using
public funds. As such, there are occasions where conversation and information gathering are
underway and necessary but not always visible to all interested parties, until the time for official
action (as per State statutes).
Please let me 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