Common use of Conservation Values Clause in Contracts

Conservation Values. 1. Collectively and individually the following natural, scenic and ecological qualities and the open space character of the Protected Property comprise its “Conservation Values.” There is public value in conserving the following aspects of the property with this Conservation Easement: a. The protection of this property assists in returning the property to a less developed state and enhancing its natural character, contributing to a larger complex of open space along the St. Croix River, within the City of Stillwater and in the St. Croix Valley. It provides scenic and open space views that are a pleasing contrast to surrounding development and are to be enjoyed by the general public from public rights-of-way, including bike trails, and through its use as a park. b. The protection of this property contributes to a larger scale effort to provide ecological connectivity and support biological diversity in the St. Croix River Watershed. c. The protection of this property helps protect air quality through its preservation of tree canopy. d. The protection of this property improves surface and ground water resources by limiting the physical degradation caused by soil movement and increased asphalting typically endured as part of the development process, and by reducing the volume of runoff and potential flooding. It further enhances the ecosystem’s ability to clean water and reduce concentrations of substances produced by society by maintaining an area for infiltration and natural treatment of storm water in the watershed. e. The protection of this property prevents privatization of access to this segment of the St. Croix River. 2. These Conservation Values of the Protected Property are further set forth in the Baseline Property Report dated March 21, 2017 that the parties acknowledge accurately represents the present condition of the Protected Property. Each of the parties has a copy of the Baseline Property Report. The Seller will use the Baseline Property Report as the basis for monitoring subsequent uses of the Protected Property and enforcing the terms of this Conservation Easement. 3. These Conservation Values have not been and are not likely to be significantly impaired by the continuous use of the Protected Property as described above or as authorized in this Conservation Easement. 4. The preservation and protection of these Conservation Values will provide significant benefit to the public.