Creative Habitat Restoration: Comprehensive Planning, Implementation, and Long-Term Management

by Larry Lodwick

Publisher:

Lehigh University Press

, 2013

This electronic-book provides a comprehensive examination of the systems approach to habitat restoration. The approach includes methods for the thorough planning necessary to restore, implement, and maintain both structural and functional aspects of natural habitats on previously disturbed sites. Implementation of the plan requires not only following the plan, but providing the logistics and adaptive management to ensure success. This book is an extended communication to novices and entry and mid-level environmental professionals detailing many of the skills needed to be not only successful in restoring and maintaining habitats, but in navigating the regulatory requirements and the potential financial assistance which comes from governmental and private sources. The approach is not so much a “hands-on skills” or a “cookbook” approach; rather, the book imparts the strategies and tactics needed if you are to be successful in your career. The book has the techniques necessary for a wide variety of habitats, with hyperlinks to specific and detailed techniques for specific species and habitats.

The approach is develop a strategy to habitat restoration as a functional system¸ not simply restoring single species or group of species. From initial considerations in site selection, acquisition, optimal buffer designations, and implementation, through long-term management, the approach is to ensure success in maintaining long-term ecological structures and functions.

Contents

Table of Contents
Note to Readers:
Preface
CHAPTER ONE - BACKGROUND
Why Be Creative?
Why Do Restoration?
Responsible Parties
Restoration Specialist Qualifications
Ecologists
Biologists
Soils Scientists
Hydrologists and Hydrogeologists
Environmental Engineers*
Landscape Architects*
Surveyors*
Land planners
Landscape Firms
Attorneys*
What is important to remember in restoration Planning
Governmental Agency Coordination
Permit Requirements
Budget And Support From The Project Proponent
Species Biology
Restoration Schedule/Logistics
Phasing Projects Over Several years
Materials and Labor Availability
Flexibility
Best Available Science
Best Management Practices
Defining Restoration / Mitigation / Creation / Enhancement / Preservation
Definitions of Natural Structure, Function, and Value
Ecological Structures
Ecological Functions
Values
CHAPTER TWO - APPROACHES TO RESTORATION PROJECTS
The Systems Approach
Structural Replacement Approach
“Saturday Morning” Approach
CHAPTER THREE – SELECTING A RESTORATION SITE
Finding Restoration Sites And Determining Suitability
Restoration Site – What is the Optimal Size?
Case Study: Cathedral Woods in the Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas
Land Availability
Legal Issues
Land Deeds, Easements, Covenants, and Other Binding Documents
Zoning and Comprehensive Planning Maps
Waters, including Wetlands
Aquatic Habitat Restoration, Establishment, and Enhancement Activities.
Water Rights
Mineral Rights
Special-status Species
Fire Department and Air quality Regulations
Flood Control Agencies Concerns
Physical Suitability for the Restoration Project
Hydric Soils
Tools for Restoration Site Selection
Maps and Aerial Photography
Topographic Maps
Aerial Photos
Soil Surveys
Natural Heritage Databases and GAP analyses
GPS / GIS capabilities
Protecting the Proposed Restoration Site
Are There Sites That Should Not Be Considered For Restoration?
CHAPTER FOUR –BACKGROUND RESEARCH
Hydrology
Surface and Groundwater Modeling and Monitoring – Water Quantity
Surface and Groundwater Monitoring – Water Quality
Soils and Geology
Soils Mapping/Analysis
Soil Color, Particle Size and Type (Clay, Sand, Silt, Loam)
High Sulfur Soils / Reduced Sulfides
Fill Material
Soils, and Understanding their Importance in Restoration
Case Study: Lake Livingston State Recreation Area, Texas
Topsoil
Stockpiling Topsoil
Soil Hydrologic Characteristics
Erosion
Cultural/Paleontological Resource Presence
Biological Composition
Biotic Communities and Habitats
Species Composition
Ranking Community Structure
Functions – Opportunity and Effectiveness
Measuring Functions
The Hydrogeomorphic Methodology
Use of Functional Assessments in Restoration
Reference Sites and Indicator Species
CHAPTER FIVE – THE PLANNING PROCESS
Restoration of Biotic Community or Habitat Structure
Sustainable Populations of Plants and Animals
Carrying Capacities for Species
Climate Change
Carbon Sequestration
Altering Species Habitats
Sea Level Increase
Community Versus Single Species Restoration
Restoring Habitats to Mature, Disturbed Communities
Special-Status Species Restoration
Reintroductions of extripated species
Wildlife/Faunal Habitat Restoration
Restoration of biotic community or habitat functions
Restoration of biotic community or habitat Values
Designing the abiotic features of the site
Can Modelling Be Useful In The Planning Process?
Goals versus Expectations
What are Your Client’s Expectations?
What are Your Expectations?
What are the Permitting Agencies’ Expectation, If Applicable
Goals Should Be Related To The Size And Type Of The Restoration effort
Consider Unattainable Goals / Issues in Reaching For The Stars
Eliminate All Invasive Or Exotic Species
Have Sufficient Water For The Restoration.
Restoring A Plant Community That Has Become Rare
Restoring a plant community or habitat that is inherently Difficult to replace
Old Growth Forests
Peatlands Restoration - bogs, fens, etc.
Springs and Seeps Restoration
Streams
Biotic Crusts in Arid Areas
Buffers
Disturbance Monitoring Buffers For Regional Disturbances
Determining Impact Debits and Restoration Credits
Determining Debits by Structure
Determining Credits by Structure
Determining Functional Debits and Credits
Case Study – Culvert Replacement on a Threatened Salmonid Stream
Cost- Benefit Analyses
Light and Glare
Utilities
CHAPTER SIX - WRITING THE RESTORATION PLAN
Restoration/Mitigation Plan Format
Peer Review of the Restoration Plan
Engineering the Restoration
Submitting the Restoration Plan for Approval
CHAPTER SEVEN – IMPLEMENTING THE RESTORATION PLAN
Restoration Project Management
Public Outreach Capabilities
CHAPTER EIGHT - REGIONAL PLANNING APPROACHES
Watershed Planning
Streamside Restoration
Special Area Management Plans (SAMPS)
Habitat Conservation Planning Areas
Very Large Restoration Projects
Conservation Programs of the Natural Resources Conservation Service
Restoration/Mitigation Banking
CHAPTER NINE -RESTORATION SITE FENCES
Fencing
Silt fencing
Chain link fencing
Barbed or Barbless Fencing
Exclusionary Fencing
Wildlife Movement Friendly Fences
Solid Walls
Snow/Sand Fencing
Best Management Practices
Culvert placement and design
Beaver-Proof Culverts
Protection and Restoration of Trees
Protection And Restoration Of Riparian Corridors And Waters Edges
Water Control Structures
Floodgates and Water Control Structures
Berms and Levees
Current Deflectors
Level Spreaders
French Drains
Enhancement, Restoration, or Establishment Stream Structure
Erosion Control and sediment stabilization
Restoration of site Hydrology
Removing Drainage Tiles
Restoration of Springs and Seeps
Vernal Pool Restoration
Water Quality Maintenance
Biofiltration Technique - Removal of Algal Mats
Fertilizers and soil amendments
Streambed soils Bioengineering
The Landscape Plan
Essential elements of a landscape plan:
Plant Selection
Selecting the Plant Palette Based on Species’ structure and function
Cultivars
Maintaining Genetic Integrity
Planting Locations
Plant Spacing
Planting on Berms and Levees
Volunteering Species
Seed Collection, Cleaning, and Storage
Seed preparation
Seed Bed Preparation/ Seeding Techniques
Seed Banks
Seed Repositories
Other sources of plant materials
Commercial Plant Nurseries
On-Site Plant Nurseries
Prohibition of non-native invasive species
Mechanized Land Clearing to Remove Non-Native Plant Species
Mycorrhizae
Case Study – Santa Susana Tarplant Mitigation Plan
Pollinators
Purpose of the Mitigation
Goal
Proposed Mitigation
Maintenance
Monitoring
Performance Standards
Monitoring Methods
Adaptive Management/Contingency Plans
Long-term Protection
Certification Of Success
References
The Wildlife Restoration Plan
Restoring Wildlife Habitat
Wildlife Habitat – Food and Water
Case Study – Restoring Silvery Legless Lizard Habitat
Wildlife Habitat - Breeding and Nesting
Wildlife Habitat – Cover
Wildlife Habitat – Movement
Wildlife Crossing of Transportation Corridors
Wildlife Habitat – Genetic Exchange between Populations
Wildlife Habitat – Predation
Wildlife Habitat – Associated Species
Control of Non-native or Overpopulated Wildlife
Control of non-native amphibians
Case Study - Indian Mynas in Canberra, Australia
Visualizing your Landscape / Landscape Renderings
Completion of the Restoration Plan
CHAPTER TEN – IMPLEMENTING THE RESTORATION PLAN
Educating Everyone working on the project
Earthwork
Designation of Heavy Equipment For Earthwork
Equipment working in of Adjacent to aquatic areas
Removal of Imported Fill Materials and Accumulated Sediments
Scarifying compacted soils
Plant Materials, Receiving and installing
Public Acceptance
Irrigation and Available Water
Condensation
CHAPTER ELEVEN – POST IMPLEMENTATION MONITORING AND MAINTENANCE
What Constitutes Success in Restoration?
Performance Standards
Monitoring – Baseline
As-Built Plans
Restoration Monitoring Design
Quantitative Methods
Qualitative Methods
Photo stations
Reporting
Maintenance of the Restoration Site
Maintenance of Natural Resources
Invasive and Aggressive plant and animal Species Management
Invasive and aggressive plant Control (weed Control)
Categories of Weed Control Methods
Mechanical Weed Control
Mowing Management
Chemical Weed Control
Wick applicator method
Biological Weed Control
Environmental Weed Control
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Scheduling Weed Control
Prescribed Burning
Herbivory
Invasive or Aggressive Animal Control
Baiting: poisons, and Contraceptives
Mosquito Control
Vegetation-Disease Infected Sites
Adaptive Management
Visitor Management
Restoration Workers
Paid Workers – Contractors
Volunteer Labor
New Technology
Restoration Cost Estimates
Restoration Site Signage
Livestock Grazing as a Restoration / Maintenance Mechanism
Case Study – Stream Crossing for Livestock
CHAPTER TWELVE - LONG TERM MANAGEMENT PLANS AND PROTECTION MEASURES
Conservation Covenants / Easements
Utility Corridors and Eminent Domain
Financial Guarantees
Transferring the property title to a public or a non-governmental Organization
Homeowner Associations
CHAPTER THIRTEEN - SUMMARY
References: (Not all linked references are included)
Selected Journals and Magazines of Interest to Restoration Specialists
Selected books of Interest to Restoration Specialists
Glossary
Acronyms used in the text (With links to their websites)
Appendix A - The Federal Register (United States) and similar Publications
Appendix B - Websites for Natural Resources Restoration, Management and Evaluation - Regionalized for the United States
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Product Details

• Title : Creative Habitat Restoration: Comprehensive Planning, Implementation, and Long-Term Management
• Author: Lodwick, Larry
• Publisher: Lehigh University Press
• Publication Date: 2013
• ISBN: 9781611461329

About Larry Lodwick

Larry Lodwick has been an ecologist for 40 years, with experience in both the public and private sectors. With a M.S. degree in biology from Baylor University, with his thesis researching primary production in peat deposits, his interest through the years has been on the ecological functions of natural systems. He has worked as a natural resources biologist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (park operations), an ecologist for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation in coastal management and wetland regulation, and as an ecological consultant in California, Oregon, and Washington. Larry has taught classes in habitat restoration in Washington, Oregon, California, Texas, and in Vancouver, British Columbia, and has mentored many entry-level biologists in the art and science of habitat restoration.