a schematic for restoration

I was researching the addition of bends in the HPER ditch and found a great schematic for what we are trying to do. It is from a book and a link to the pdf is here http://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/OpenNonWebContent.aspx?content=17771.wba
The schematic is Figure 11-1
Let me know what you think.

website for permits

This link is for Washington state but I think it will still be a good reference.
http://apps.oria.wa.gov/permithandbook/handbook.asp

Global restoration network database

I really enjoy looking at the global restoration network database. Not only do I get ideas for test questions, but it is useful to see the different restorations around the world, the approaches based on stated goals, and also the costs. 

http://www.globalrestorationnetwork.org/database/

a.       Purpose

a)      Improve habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species

b)      Improve hydrology

c)      Improve water quality in Hyper creek

d)     Education/ research

e)      Heighten public awareness/ encourage use

 

b.      Need

a)      Address water quality

b)      Stem encroachment of exotics not yet prevalent in JMNR (Bradford Pear, Black Locust for example)

c)      Engage public to ensure continued protected status

d)     Improve native species diversity

c.       Goals

a)      Improve hydrology/geomorphology

1)      Transform ditch to two stage ditch to accommodate flow while increasing bank angle and allowing for establishment of riparian vegetation.

2)      Add sinuosity – reduce flashiness                             

b)      Create riparian zone of distinct species

c)      Stem encroachment of exotic invasive plant species that are not yet prevalent in JMNR.

1)      Remove vegetation from dumpsite

2)      Install botanical garden with green space to discourage reestablishment of invasive species.

d)     Improve water quality

1)      Add small wetland or ponds near Dave Ward

e)      Increase instream habitat heterogeneity

1)      Add wood

f)       Facilitate public access to stream

1)      New riparian zone

2)      Bend in creek integrated with botanical garden installation

g)      Create public interest and encourage visits to restoration sites and JMNR

1)      Install botanical gardens

2)      Engage stakeholders to hold events/create unique space through art

h)      Increase species diversity

1)      Kill privet/Japanese honeysuckle along creek

2)      Installation of novel riparian ecosystem

3)      Benthic macroinvertebrate population; positive response to improved habitat/reduced flashiness.

i)        Education and research

1)      Historic prairie restoration

2)      Native species featured in garden beds

3)      Data collections and monitoring; post restoration

a)      birds, pollinators, plants, macro invertebrates, biofilm

b)      Stream bank stability/ stream bed heterogeneity

c)      Water quality

d.      Restoration approach

a)      partial restoration (small prairie at dumpsite),

b)      complete alteration (dumpsite)  

c)      partial construction (two stage ditch; wetland area near Dave Ward)

d)     hybrid – install riparian vegetation to create riparian zone

e)      passive- species residing in sections of creek downstream of restoration and wetlands will benefit from restoration. 

e.       Stakeholders and quadrants addressed

a)      City of Conway – Campus considered big selling point.

b)      General Public

c)      UCA Staff, faculty, students in general

d)     Gallery, public art committee, art department

1)      Possible venue for exhibits and permanent installations                  

e)      Music department (possibly)

f)       Faulkner County Master gardeners (possibly)

g)      UCA Board of Directors

h)      NRCS – proposed wetlands would improve water quality headed towards Lake Conway.

                        Socio-Economic

                                    Improve water quality

                                    Possible increase in property values

                                    Proven positive health effects from connecting with nature
                                    (lots of supporting data).

                                    Selling point for Conway to draw in businesses
                                    (increased employment; more revenue for city) 

                        Ecological

                                    Improved nutrient cycling/ecosystem functions

                                    Increase in biodiversity

                                    Improved instream habitat

                                    Control of invasive exotics (try to anyway)

                        Cultural

                                    Art/music

                                    Garden will be a place for public gatherings

                                    Historic prairie/native plants in beds

                        Personal

                                    Garden/new riparian area facilitates connection to nature
                                    (pretty flowers;soothing waters)

                                    Repeated use strengthens attachment

f.       Project duration and cost

a)      6 months

From a Master Gardener

Just putting some quick notes here.

My aunt is a Master Gardener, and I got together with her to see if she had any suggestions for our proposed garden. She hasn't personally participated in a project of this scope; she usually deals with this more on the level of a back yard.

I explained the plan so far, and she agreed that it seems quite doable with what we have. She advised against using fill material to build up landscaping because there's a risk of invasive plants in the seed bank growing back through. She immediately knew the problems when I described the plants we are dealing with (Bradford pear and black locust), and warned that they might be a bigger problem than we're currently expecting. She totally supported bulldozing them to the ground.

One suggestion that we hadn't really considered was a small vegetable patch. This would require testing to soil to make sure it's safe to grow food plants there, but it could be a valid possibility as maybe a future addition.

She also has an entire shelf of books on Arkansas plants that I can obtain if we need/want them for references.

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.