CRITICAL AREA BUFFER MANAGEMENT PLANS

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CRITICAL AREA BUFFER MANAGEMENT PLANS

• Leslie Wood
• Environmental Systems Analysis, Inc.
• May 22, 2008

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WHY ARE BUFFER MANAGEMENT PLANS NEEDED?

• To ensure that the water quality and habitat
  functions of the Buffer are not reduced or
  degraded and preferably are improved or enhanced.

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WHY ARE BUFFER MANAGEMENT PLANS NEEDED?

• No structures can be built in the Buffer
  (including septic systems, stormwater management
  ponds, and swimming pools)
• Establishment of a new Buffer
• Mitigation for an approved variance
• Mitigation for development activities within
  Buffer Exemption Areas
• Acceptable modifications that require Buffer
  Management Plans
• Invasive species control
• Remove dead or dying trees that threaten a built
  structure
• Create or modify an access path
• Installation of erosion control measures
• Create or modify boat ramp or pier
• Filling or grading in the Buffer to address
  drainage or stormwater problems

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Practical, maintainable, enforceable

• Visit site and discuss the plan with property
  owner and contractor performing the work (if
  applicable)
• Verify that Buffer is correctly delineated based
  on current shoreline or edge of wetlands
• Consider making entire Buffer common areas in new
  subdivisions
• Use permanent markers to establish location of
  Buffer (sign, fence, certain trees, bird boxes,
  small post)

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ELEMENTS OF BUFFER MANAGEMENT PLANS

• 1. Application/ Narrative
• 2. Calculation of Mitigation for Approved
  Variances
• 3. Site Plan

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APPLICATION AND NARRATIVE
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APPLICATION

• Property information
• Owner and applicants name and contact information
• Project name and address
• Critical Area designation
• Zoning, Tax Map Information
• Authorization for local jurisdiction officials to
  enter property

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APPLICATION
Buffer Exemption Area? Any restrictions on
property?

• Proposed Buffer disturbance
• New development
• Redevelopment
• Shore erosion control
• Shore access
• Horticultural
• Other

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NARRATIVE

• Describe the proposed project
• Describe the existing conditions with photographs
• Justification for disturbance
• Maintenance and Protection

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MAINTENANCE AND LONG-TERM PROTECTION

• Maintenance Plan
• Time period of maintenance
• Monitoring stem density and replacing dying
  plants
• Invasive species control
• Watering of newly planted areas
• Remulching or planting native groundcover
• Annual monitoring report
• Bonding
• Long-term protection agreements or easements

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CALCULATION OF MITIGATION FOR APPROVED VARIANCES
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CALCULATE MITIGATION FOR APPROVED BUFFER VARIANCES

• Either use of trees cleared or area of buffer
  cleared

MITIGATION RATIOS New development/redevelopment
Non-BEA 31 BEA 21 Shore
erosion control 11 Shore access
21 Horticultural (removal of exotics, 11
dead or dying trees/shrubs)
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MITIGATION PLANTING

• Location
• On-site in Buffer
• On-site adjacent to Buffer
• On-site within Critical Area
• On-site outside Critical Area but adjacent to a
  stream or existing forest
• Off-site following 1-3
• Fee-in-lieu payments

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CREDITS FOR PLANTING

• Each jurisdiction can set different credits for
  mitigation

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SITE PLANS
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SITE PLAN FOR SINGLE LOTS

• Scale
• Location of existing structures
• Property boundary
• Critical Area Buffer
• Exact location of existing and proposed plants
  within Buffer
• Legend

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BUFFER MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR SUBDIVISIONS

• Typical Site Plan Information, plus
• Critical Area Buffer
• Timeline or schedule for project
• Natural Features soils, wetlands, treeline,
  Habitat Protection Areas, steep slopes
• Implementation Notes
• Planting Schedule and Typical Details
• Project Description and Justification
• Description of existing conditions with
  photographs
• Description of long-term protection and
  maintenance

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IMPLEMENTATION NOTES

• Buffer Management Area I, Reforestation
• IA Planting
• IB Natural Regeneration
• Buffer Management Area II, Forest with Invasive
  Species Control
• Pier and Access Path
• Mitigation Planting

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Example Plant Schedule
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Resources

• U.S. Fish Wildlife Services Native Plants for
  Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping
  Chesapeake Bay Watershed
• http//www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/chesapeake/
• Swearingen, J., K. Reshetiloff, B. Slattery, and
  S. Zwicker. 2002. Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic
  Natural Areas. National Park Service and U.S.
  Fish Wildlife Service,
• http//www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/
  
• U.S. Forest Services Nonnative Invasive Plants
  of Southern Forests A Field Guide for
  Identification and Control by James H. Miller
  http//www.invasive.org/eastern/srs/

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Challenges for Buffer Management Plan Programs

• Meeting landowner desires for a view
• Violations
• Regulations are coming