River Protection Workgroup Initial River Protection Tools/Mechanisms

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the maintenance of the "conservation values" which the easement is intended to protect. There are currently several federal and state tax incentives available to landowners who decide to place their property in a conservation easement. IV. County Land Use Code: Counties have enacted a wide range of tools to help protect rivers, wetlands and groundwater through land use codes, crafted and implemented in ways ranging from voluntary, incentive based approaches to regulatory approaches. Some examples include: Low Density (Agricultural) Zoning; Overlay Districts (e.g. Groundwater Recharge Protection, Wetland Protection, Watershed Protection, and River Protection Districts (Douglas County, GA) etc.; identification/designation of special areas (e.g. Critical Resource Protection Areas (Stafford County Virginia), to be addressed in site planning for development; Natural Resource Regulations (e.g. Sarasota County, FL); development standards and/or regulations; ordinances (e.g. Floodplain, Waterbody Setback or Buffer, Wetland, Tree Protection, Steep Slopes, Storm Water Quality Standards, Stormwater Drainage, Erosion and Sedimentation Control); river protection acts (e.g. Seminole County, FL); transfer of development rights programs. V. Federal Legislation (Special): 1. Rio Grande Natural Area ( "RGNA ") in Colorado: S 26, 109th Congress. The purposes of the RGNA are to conserve, restore and protect the native, historic, cultural, scientific, scenic, wildlife and recreational resources of the RGNA. The nine member RGNA Commission was established to advise the Secretary on the RGNA and prepare an RGNA Management Plan ( "Plan "), hold hearings and enter into cooperative agreements. The Commission may not acquire real property. In assisting in the implementation of the Plan, the Commission may assist Colorado in preserving state land and wildlife; increasing public awareness of the RGNA; encouraging Colorado political subdivisions to implement land use plans consistent with the management of the RGNA and helping private individuals in implementation of the Plan. The Commission, in developing the Plan, is to consider other plans in existence for 1?3NA lands to prepare a unified conservation effort; develop the Plan under FLPMA, and ensure Plan consistency with BLM plans for adjacent areas. The Secretary is to cooperate with Colorado and the Rio Grand Water Conservation District to determine any needed changes in stream flows. 2. North St. Vrain Creek ( "Creek "). Pursuant to special federal legislation, 16 USC § 195a, neither the Secretary nor any other federal agency may provide any assistance for the construction of any new water impoundment facility in any segment of the Creek or its tributaries within Rocky Mountain National Park or on the Creek mainstem in a designated section of the stream below the Park. VI. Gold Medal Waters: The Colorado Division of Wildlife Gold Medal Waters designation recognizes the highest quality cold -water fishery habitats and the public's interest in maintaining and managing these habitats: 11