AG 2004 10 18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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from Reedy Creek to Dutch Buffalo Creek, half of which flows within the Midland Plan area, received an "Impaired" water quality rating in the 2003 Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. No waters in this subbasin are classified for primary recreation. Current water quality limitations for recreation are incompatible with future greenways planned along streams in the Midland Plan Area. Reparative measures should be examined and implemented for this stretch of the Rocky River. The Rocky River Is the largest water feature in the Midland Plan Area. This water source runs along the eastern side of the Plan Area and also branches out into Anderson Creek and the Horton Branch. The Town of Midland also includes Anderson and Muddy Creeks. In the southern portion of the plan area the Clear Creek branches off into Far Branch and Wiley Branch. Each of these rivers, creeks and branches create floodplains that should be protected from any developmental disturbances. Fortunately, the Town of Midland and unincorporated areas of the plan area participate in FEMA's the Flood Damage Prevention Program and have adopted ordinances that will regulate development along these floodplains (see Map 5, Floodways and Wetlands). It is important to protect these waterways and floodplains for water quality and environmental reasons and most importantly for storm water management. Historical, Natural Heritage and Farmland Preservation The Land Trust for Central North Carolina currently holds conservation easements on two farms in the Midland plan area: the John Bunyan Green Farm and the Marion Hamilton Farm. Permanent conservation easements on over 300 acres were purchased on both farms with state and federal farmland preservation funds in part to protect prime farmland soils on these tracts. Farmland preservation funds are still available in the County, interested parties should contact the Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District at 704-920-3300. In addition to the John Bunyan Green Farm, sites in the Midland plan area that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places are the Bethel Methodist Church Arbor and the Reed Gold Mine. These sites are afforded a measure of protection where potential projects involve federal funds. The Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District completed a comprehensive natural heritage inventory in 2002. Published as An Inventory of the Significant Natural Areas of Caba"us County, North Carolina, this inventory describes three sites within the Midland plan area. They are the Hartsell Road Mesic Forest, Reed Gold Mine, and the Everett Voncannon Property. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program designates the first two sites as having "regional" significance. As such, they were among only thirteen sites in Cabarrus County that were officially recognized as having regional, state, or national significance. C-t 9