Natural Resources Committee approves multiple conservation purchases and easement contributions

Beaufort County’s Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved several conservation transactions on motion Monday, authorizing county funding to support a conservation easement on Trotters Loop and to help acquire multiple parcels including the North Widgeon property.

The committee voted to authorize up to $310,000 in county funds toward a conservation easement procured by the Open Land Trust for property known as the Trotters Loop. The committee also approved county participation in fee-simple procurements for the North Wriggant Tracts (not to exceed $250,000 from the Green Space fund) and a larger North Widgeon acquisition, for which staff described a rural-and-critical-lands share request of roughly $2.2 million supplemented by $250,000 from the county Green Space fund and a matching $250,000 from a state conservation bank. Committee members raised no objections and approval votes were recorded as unanimous by voice/hand vote.

The Trotters Loop easement was presented to the committee as a voluntary, private-land conservation effort covering roughly 55 acres assembled from 18 parcels. Dr. McShane,…