<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 58-76. - Baseline documentation and monitoring.</div>
<div class="chunk-content">
            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Baseline documentation purpose</span>. This policy establishes the procedure for the collection, compilation, and storage
               of baseline documentation for conservation easements managed by Buncombe County Soil
               and Water Conservation District. The Soil and Water Conservation District must have
               baseline documentation for all properties it protects. This information establishes
               the condition of a property at the time of acquisition, allowing comparisons with
               findings during subsequent monitoring events. Such information is also required by
               the IRS for landowners seeking a federal income tax deduction for conservation easement
               donations. In most cases, the Soil and Water Conservation District will collect this
               information for the conservation easement donor. Baseline documentation is important
               in defending conservation properties from threats, including conservation easement
               violations. The baseline documentation may be relied upon during litigation to establish
               the condition of a property prior to a conservation easement violation. The Soil and
               Water Conservation District will collect and store all baseline documentation for
               conservation easements in a manner that maximizes effectiveness for enforcement purposes.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <span class="ital">Baseline data collection.</span> The volume and specificity of the information included in the baseline documentation
               report may vary depending on the terms of the easement and the conservation objectives
               for the property. It is the Soil and Water Conservation District's policy that baseline
               data will be collected by staff, or paid contractors.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="b2">
               Baseline data collected during a site visit will generally include:
               </p>
            <p class="incr2">
               a.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Boundary photos, photos of special features, and photos of structures and other improvements;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               b.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Global positioning system (GPS) data and locations on a map of each photo, special
               feature, structure, and other improvement;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               c.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Web soil survey soils map;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               d.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               USGS topographic map;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               e.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Buncombe County tax map;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               f.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Forest management plan;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr3">
               1.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content4">
               If there is forestland on the property, then a forestry management plan is required
               within the baseline document.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr3">
               2.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content4">
               The forest management plan can change over time, depending on varying landowner objectives
               (harvest, wildlife, old growth etc.) but the plan must be followed.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               g.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Flora and fauna lists, including rare species, within general natural communities
               (upland, floodplain, etc.);
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               h.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Natural communities map (delineated from aerial photos and/or site visit);
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               i.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Written description of the property outlining the landscape, biological composition,
               historical or cultural features being protected, land use history and restrictions
               on future land uses;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               j.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Photos with a photo point location map and descriptive captions; and
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               k.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Management issues that warrant future consideration.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (2)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <span class="ital">Baseline data compilation and storage.</span> Baseline data will be compiled using archival materials. The original copy of the
               baseline data will be kept at the Soil and Water Conservation District office. A copy
               also will be provided to the landowners. For conservation easements, the baseline
               documentation will be reviewed by the landowner. Landowners will certify review of
               the baseline documentation by signing the acknowledgement of the baseline document.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (b)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Monitoring of conservation easements purpose.</span> To protect conservation values and maintain safety on its fee simple properties,
               Soil and Water Conservation District will conduct regular monitoring and maintain
               detailed records of inspections, problems on the property and actions taken to address
               such problems, and report these results to the advisory board.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <span class="ital">Monitoring personnel.</span> Overall supervision of monitoring is the responsibility of the Farmland Preservation
               Coordinator. The Soil and Water Conservation District Director may delegate monitoring
               duties to any of the soil and water soil conservationists if needed.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (2)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <span class="ital">Monitoring procedure.</span> Comprehensive monitoring shall be performed annually, with additional monitoring
               visits and reports to be generated as needed. Monitoring can take place on foot, off-road
               vehicle, or on-road vehicle using the Buncombe County Soil and Water monitoring form
               and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services/United States
               Department of Agriculture monitoring form which will vary based on funding.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (3)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <span class="ital">Safety precautions.</span> Monitors should take safety precautions as appropriate, including informing others
               when leaving on a monitoring visit, packing extra water, sunscreen, hat, appropriate
               shoes, GPS, and cell phone.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (4)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <span class="ital">Monitoring tools.</span> Property maps, soil maps and topography maps shall be brought on the site visit for
               reference to show the location of any situation requiring action. GPS will be used
               to help locate points of interest, safety hazards, and trespassing locations. These
               points will be recorded on the monitor form.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (5)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <span class="ital">Recordkeeping.</span> Monitor activities will be recorded on the Buncombe County Soil and Water monitoring
               form. Monitoring reports, including the monitoring form, maps, and photos from the
               visit will be kept on record by the Soil and Water Conservation District farmland
               preservation coordinator. All monitoring reports will be kept on file in the farmland
               preservation coordinator's office and an electronic copy will be stored.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (6)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <span class="ital">Problems and violations.</span> Threats to conservation values or safety problems that require action shall be reported
               to the Soil and Water Conservation District Director. The person responsible for taking
               action shall work to remedy the problem in a timely manner and shall be required to
               report actions taken and that report will be a permanent record.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (7)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <span class="ital">Revising the policy.</span> From time to time the monitoring policy may be revised for the following reasons,
               to correct errors or clarify ambiguities in order to comply with Soil and Water Conservation
               District's standards and practices. Any revisions to the monitoring policy require
               the prior approval and adoption by the advisory board before implementation.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (8)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               <span class="ital">Monitoring form.</span> The monitoring form shall, at a minimum, contain the following information:
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               a.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Site information;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               b.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Current condition of the property;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               c.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Conservation values;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               d.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Natural threats to the conservation values;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               e.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Hazards present;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               f.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Human use;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               g.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Evidence of overuse;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               h.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Structures and improvements;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               i.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Current management activities;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               j.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Neighboring properties;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               k.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Recommendations for actions;
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               l.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               List all persons present during the inspection:
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               m.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Attachments such as map and photos; and
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               n.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Monitor's signature and date.
               </p>
            		</div>