Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.
Description: Regulated Areas within the green infrastructure network include environmentally sensitive features such as streams (and stream buffers), wetlands (and wetland buffers), and 100-year floodplains that are protected during the land development process by laws, guidelines, or regulations at the County State, or Federal level. In these areas preservation is the main focus and development is not permitted except for necessary construction of road crossings and installation of public utilities. Throughout the County, Regulated Areas generally include the areas along stream corridors that have at a certain amount of forest on both sides of the stream, along with gaps between those areas that are no greater than 600 feet. In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have meadow habitat or a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, or forest, where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. As a result, the Regulated Areas within the network do not include all of the regulated areas in the County, and they are only approximate. For development purposes, the actual extent of environmentally regulated areas on any particular site must be determined through the County’s Natural Resources Inventory/ Forest Stand Delineation process.In some cases the Regulated Areas include stream segments that have existing meadow habitat buffers (or buffers that contain a mixture of meadow, scrub-shrub, and forest) where this could be reasonably determined from aerial photography. This is because these habitats support some types of wildlife and plant communities that do not occur in forests, and are important in maintaining biodiversity. Unforested areas within the Regulated Areas should have the highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.The criteria for inclusion within the Regulated Area mapping category are as follows:Outside of the Primary Funding Area:Minimum 200-foot wide forested (or other natural area) corridors along streams Forest stands 50 acres or greater with a minimum of 10 acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetPriority Funding Areas outside of the Urban Ring:Minimum 100-foot wide forested (or other natural areas) corridors along streams Forest stands 25 acres or greater with at least three acres of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetUrban Ring:No minimum stream corridor widthAny forest stand with at least one acre of interior forestNatural area gaps no greater than 600 feetRegulated Area corridors can be 200 feet, 250 feet, or 300 feet wide depending on the Water Use Class. The Regulated Area corridors are also expanded to include the 100-year floodplain, and contiguous mapped wetlands and ponds and their buffers.Evaluation Areas are significant natural areas that are contiguous with or close to the Regulated Areas, and should be examined during the development review process. This examination would determine if any additional resources could be protected to enhance the network, or if there are areas where mitigation should be directed to expand existing or adjacent resources. Evaluation Areas may contain environmentally sensitive features such as interior forest, special habitats, and environmental settings of cultural resources, and they should be given high priority on such issues as onsite forest and habitat conservation during the master planning and development review processes. Public facilities planned in these areas should consider protection of resources in the Evaluation Areas.After Regulated Areas, unforested areas within Evaluation Areas should have the second highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.Network Gaps are breaks within the green infrastructure network that have the potential to fill open areas within Evaluation Areas, or to connect Regulated and Evaluation Areas. If protected and restored, Network Gaps can significantly expand the network, and increase the acreage of forest and non-forest habitat such as meadows. During the master planning and development review processes, these areas should be evaluated to determine the potential to improve green infrastructure connectivity. Golf courses are included as Network Gaps because, as relatively large open spaces, they can provide some natural resource functions in their current state, and network connections and ecological functions could be strengthened if they are proposed for redevelopment. Network Gaps include some streams which, while regulated in the development review process, are not included within the Regulated Area green infrastructure mapping category because they do not currently meet the Regulated Area mapping criteria described above.After Regulation Areas and Evaluation Areas, Network Gaps should have the third highest priority for reforestation, or for retention of existing meadow habitat or creation of new meadow habitat if that is deemed preferable.