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62 Town of Aurora Wildlife There are two species which are considered Rare and Endangered that have been recorded in Aurora: the Bigeye Chub (Hybopsis amblops), a freshwater fish, and the Yellow Giant Hyssop (Agastache nepetoides), a perennial flowering plant. The Bigeye Chub is listed as Critically Imperiled or Imperiled in New York but secure throughout the world. The Yellow Giant Hyssop is listed as Threatened (likely to become Endangered in the foreseeable future) in New York, but secure throughout the world. In The Town of Aurora, according to the New York iMapInvasives mapping tool, there are 35 confirmed documentations of invasive species. Invasive species are ranked by a tier system formulated by state agencies including the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the NYS Natural Heritage Program. The tiers range from 4 to 1, with 4 being the most urgent, described as a “highly invasive species with great abundance in the region, [with the] management goal of local control.” Of the 86 Tier 4 species which have been identified in the Western New York region, 29 have been identified in the Town of Aurora. This also means that over 80% of the invasive species in Aurora are considered the most urgent with management response being focused on local control. Forested Land There are 17,374 acres of land in the Town of Aurora that are forested. This equates to 79.9% of the total land in the town having at least 2% - 96% tree coverage. Tree canopy data through the NLCD is provided by the U.S. Forest Service at 30-meter resolution. Tree canopy cover is derived from multi-spectral satellite imagery and other available ground and ancillary information. Tree canopy refers to the layer of branches of leaves that cover the ground when viewed from above. Tree canopy is an important metric for communities not only because of the ecosystem services that trees provide (removal of pollutants, reduction of stormwater runoff, carbon sequestration, and more), but also because trees provide shade and cooling for homes, businesses, and users of sidewalks and streets. The presence of trees nearly universally increases property values and the desirability of a neighborhood. Tree canopy cover is calculated on a percentage scale from 0% to about 96%. In the Town of Aurora, about 4,366 acres have 0% tree cover, equating to about 21% of total land in the town. Conversely, 7,709 acres (35.5% of land cover) have 76% – 96% tree cover. Agriculture and Farmland Protection Calculated % % of Total Acres in Acres Agricultural Parcels Tree Cover Town 0 4,366.0 20.1% 0.3% of all parcels in the Town of Aurora are classified as agricultural land uses. Prominent 2% to 5% 4.46 0.02% agricultural land uses still present in the Town include the Strawberry Banks Farm (equestrian 6% to 25% 1,489.9 6.85% breeding facility), several nurseries and garden 26% to 50% 3,233.1 14.8% centers, and a few remaining family farms. Overall, agricultural land uses cover 2.4% of all 51% to 75% 4,937.5 22.7% landcover in the Town (508 acres). The true total 76% to 96% 7,709.1 35.5% number of agricultural parcels and the total Note: Due to rounding differences, the percentage of land area they cover cannot be determined as a total acres is not equal to 100%. significant portion of actively farmed land in the Town is classified as vacant land. Agricultural Soils The majority of farmland in the Town of Aurora is considered high-quality by the USDA Soil Survey. High-quality soils are characterized as “Prime,” “Prime if drained,” and “Farmland of statewide importance.” Approximately 3,558 acres, or 16% of land within the Town, is considered prime farmland, which is land that is most highly suited for productive agriculture.