JMNR Riparian Project Outline

This is what I have outlined so far:

a.       Purpose

                                                              i.      – Ecological Values: To improve biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, increase riparian zone width, and establish a suitable hydrology that would support a healthy riparian zone.

                                                            ii.      Cultural Values: To directly involve all stakeholders through improving aesthetics, improve accessibility to, and facilitate the reentry of the UCA community into a shared iconic site.

                                                          iii.      Socioeconomic Values: To improve floodwater retention through the reestablishment of a functioning riparian zone.

                                                          iv.      Personal Values: To provide a place for students, faculty, and Conway residents to escape urbanization and reenter nature.

b.      Needs

                                                              i.      To determine what mixture of plants should be used in revegitation based on historic data and function [Need to contact Dr. Noyse to aid in planning the optimum mixture of seeds for re-seeding the riparian zone]

c.       Goals

                                                              i.      To establish a functioning riparian area around the HPER ditch in the JMNR in order to improve water quality, retain flood waters, and reduce erosion.

d.      Restoration approach

                                                              i.      Bank slope – Reduce the steepness of the current ~90° bank slope to reduce erosion. This could be done with heavy machinery.

                                                            ii.      Buffer zone width – Establish recommended minimum of 10 feet for bank stabilization, stream shading, water quality protection, and detrital input.

                                                          iii.      Invasive exotics – Remove privet by mechanical removal, cutting, burning…etc (Early Detection Rapid Reponse: http://www.naisma.org/ edrr) [Need to assess whether privet removal could have unintended results. Most notably on erosion control, stream shade,  and the avian community]

                                                          iv.      Revegetation with native functional groups – Seeding multiple native members of functional groups for redundancy. 

e.       Stakeholders

                                                              i.      Citizens of Conway

                                                            ii.      UCA students, faculty, and administrators

f.        Quadrants addressed

                                                              i.      – Ecological Values: Addresses biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of the stream and riparian zone by increasing the width and quality of the riparian zone allowing for improved water quality through enhanced filtering of surrounding inputs of excess nutrients, pollutants, and sediment.

                                                            ii.      Cultural Values: Directly addresses the stakeholders by improving aesthetics, improve accessibility to, and facilitating the reentry of the UCA community into a shared iconic site.

                                                          iii.      Socioeconomic Values: Addresses floodwater retention through the reestablishment of a functioning riparian zone. Could be good publicity for UCA as a university that is environmentally conscious

                                                          iv.      Personal Values: Addresses the needs of the students, faculty, and Conway residents by providing a natural area for educational and recreational activities

g.      Project duration

                                                              i.      [I am not sure what would be a reasonable time frame]

h.      Project cost

                                                              i.      [I am not sure what would be a realistic overall cost]

II.  Planning

A. Statement of project need 

1.              Identify the project site location and its boundaries.

-           JMNR near HPER

-          (35°04’31.28” N,  35°04’31.28” W)

2.              Identify ownership. 

-          President (Tom Courtway)

-          UCA Board of Trustees (Ms. Elizabeth Farris, Mr. Robert “Bunny” Adcock, Mr. Bobby Reynolds, Mrs. Kay Hinkle, Mr. Brad Lacy, Mrs. Shelia Vaught, and Mr. Victor Green)

3.              Identify the need for ecological restoration. 

                                                              i.      Document the project site history that led to the need for restoration

§  According to the 1800s survey on the JMNR there was no historic stream. Instead the HPER ditch is a manmade construct with the purpose of draining water from UCA campus.

                                                            ii.      Identify the kind of ecosystem to be restored. 

§  The HPER ditch and surrounding vegetation make up a novel ecosystem that differs from its historic state. In this project the riparian zone will be reconstructed to improve form and function.

                                                          iii.      Identify physical site conditions in need of repair.

§  The current bank slopes of about  90° need to be reduced to allow for periodic flooding of the riparian area. The width of the riparian zone should be increased, which maybe involve altering the slope of the buffer zone to slow the incoming water and allow for better infiltration of water.

4.              Identify restoration goals for overall site and habitat-specific.

5.              Identify stressors in need of regulation or re-initiation.

6.               Describe reference conditions compared to current site conditions.

B. Project logistics (What, how, and how much)

7.              Identify and list the kinds of biotic interventions that are needed.

                                                              i.      Exotic invasive species removal (Chinese privet, Japanese honeysuckle, etc…)

                                                            ii.      Seed riparian area with native plant species (multiple members of the same functional groups for redundancy)

8.              Identify landscape restrictions.

                                                              i.      Surrounding impervious surfaces increase the input of sediment, nutrients, and pollutants

                                                            ii.      Fragmentation

9.              Identify project-funding sources.

                                                              i.      UCA

10.          Identify labor sources and equipment needs. 

                                                              i.      Manual labor volunteer or paid

                                                            ii.      Heavy machinery, shovels, fire…etc

11.          Identify biotic resource needs and sources

                                                              i.      Native plant species seeds

12.          Identify the need for securing permits required by government agencies.

                                                              i.      Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) issued by APHIS

13.          Identify permit specifications, deed restrictions, and other legal constraints.

14.          Identify project duration.

15.          Itemized budget

C. Post management and monitoring strategies

16.          Identify strategies for long-term protection and management.

                                                              i.      Physical removal of invasive (Early Detection Rapid Reponse)

                                                            ii.      Controlled burns

                                                          iii.      Monitoring [Perhaps by a joint effort of UCA biology faculty and students. Also maybe clubs like the biology and environmental clubs]

17.          Describe expected restoration outcomes

                                                              i.      A functioning riparian zone that improves water quality, prevents erosion, and can better provide water drainage services to UCA

                                                            ii.      An aesthetically improved natural site for the enjoyment of the local Conway and UCA communities

18.          Describe monitoring strategies after restoration activities.

19.          Describe how ecological quadrants will be addressed.

D. References

Cite at least 8 peer reviewed papers and 3 websites that were used to develop the restoration plan.