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62 m <br />ENVIRONMENT & <br />NATURAL RESOURCES <br />PROTECT WATER QUALITY <br />Nearly all major tributaries have been considered impaired by North Carolina <br />Department of Environmental Quality standards over the past two decades. Current <br />impaired streams include Back Creek Caldwell Creek Mallard Creek, McKee Creek, <br />Reedy Creek and the Rocky River. Protecting streams and water quality were voted <br />the highest priority preservation activities at the first community meeting. <br />• Improve stormwater management <br />- Encourage low -impact design (LID) as recommended in the Upper Rocky River Watershed Man- <br />agement Plan. <br />- Consider the creation of a low -impact design (UD) option for new development that reduces <br />infrastructure requirements if design criteria is met (i.e. reductions in impervious surface, use of <br />pervious pavements, infiltration trenches, bioswales, etc) <br />• Partner with local and state agencies and private landowners to preserve and restore areas that are <br />critical to water quality, including streams, riparian areas, mature forests and wetlands. <br />- Continue to preserve vegetative buffers and steep slopes adjacent to streams. <br />- Promote wetland conservation. In addition to US Army Corps of Engineers requirements, en- <br />courage the preservation of vernal pools and small wetlands as well as upland habitat adjacent to <br />wetlands. <br />- Encourage stream restoration and enhancement projects, and incentivize landowner participation. <br />PRESERVE THE EXISTING TREE CANOPY TO THE <br />EXTENT PRACTICABLE <br />Protecting native, mature forests were voted the second highest priority preservation <br />activity at the first community meeting. <br />• Continue to designate and protect heritage trees <br />• Encourage the preservation of mature, native forest. <br />• Require the delineation of mature hardwood forest stands over a certain site threshold on prelimi- <br />nary plats, provided such information is maintained in the County's database. <br />• Work with Cabarrus County to create an inventory of large mature forest tracts. This data can be <br />used to prioritize open space design in new development and limit habitat fragmentation. <br />• Encourage site design to respect agricultural relics such as trees along fence lines <br />Less More <br />fragmented fragmented <br />it a it IF <br />Attachment number 8 sn <br />G-1 Page 183 <br />