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.

Auteur

By Larry Lodwick

Contenu

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
M…