2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan - Pitt County Government

“There has been a tendency in the United States, and perhaps in most countries, to use up ordestroy many things that would have been of value to future generations. We have needlesslywasted, destroyed and burned up large portions of the forests that would have been of pricelessvalue even to the present generation. We have needlessly worn out and destroyed much of thenatural richness of soil and have allowed large quantities of it to be washed away. We havedestroyed most of the fur-bearing animals and the game that was once so abundant. We havedestroyed the fish in rivers and lakes. All of these facts are quite generally recognized andregretted, but we have not yet reformed.”O.C.Simonds, 1920.“To waste, to destroy, our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so asto increase it’s usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperitywhich we ought by right hand down to them amplified and developed.”Theodore RooseveltNatural Environment Conditions (Maps A-6, A-7 and A-8)The recognition and protection of unique natural environments have become importantpolitical and social issues in the United States. Over the last twenty to thirty years there hasbeen a growing realization that protecting sensitive environmental areas not only saves theenvironment but ensures that future generations will not be burdened with the cost of cleaningup or restoring damaged ecological systems.Hydrology (Map A-6)The Tar River and its tributaries – Barber Creek, Chicod Creek, Conetoe Creek, Green MillRun, Grindle Creek, Kitten/Otter Creek, Meeting/Hardee Creek, Moyes Run, Parkers Creek,Phillippi Branch, Sams Branch and Tyson/Lawrence Creek - drain the northern and centralparts of the County. The Neuse River and its tributaries – Contentnea, Little Contentnea,Swift Creek/Fork Swamp, Clayroot Swamp and Creeping Swamp – drain the southern partof the County.Floodplains (Map A-6)There are significant floodplains along major drainageways and the Tar River within PittCounty. There are almost 103,000 acres of land classified as within the 100-year floodplainand an additional 4,432 within the 500-year floodplain boundary. Within theComprehensive Land Use Plan planning area there are a total of 72,087 acres within the100-year floodplain.2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan Appendix A: Inventory and AnalysisPitt County, North Carolina A-77