Intentional Wetland Restoration in an Airfield

1
Intentional Wetland Restoration in an Airfields
Clearzone at JB Andrews
Presented to
Presented by
Daniel M. Savercool, CSE
11 March 2015
2
Site Location
3
Jurisdictional Wetlands
4
Jurisdictional Wetlands (cont.)
5
Regulatory Drivers

• Clean Water Act, 404
• 2.82 acres direct and 1.56 acres buffer 804 l.f.
  stream impacts
• CERCLA (42 U.S.C. 103)
• CWA 404 is an applicable or relevant and
  appropriate requirement. Therefore, avoidance,
  minimization, and compensatory mitigation are
  required. But, a CWA 404 permit is not.
• AFI 32-7020 The Environmental Restoration Program
• Under 42 USC 9621(e)(1) and 40 CFR 300.400(e),
  the portion of any CERCLA response actions that
  are conducted entirely on-site is exempt from
  requirements to obtain Federal, state, and local
  permits.

6
Mitigation Options

• Mitigation Bank
• In Lieu Fee Program
• On-site (restoration, enhancement, creation, or
  preservation)

7
Mitigation Options

• Mitigation Bank
• None of the existing Mitigation Banks (MB) whose
  Service Areas included JB Andrews had sufficient
  available credits or the available credits were
  for the wrong type of wetland.
• The AF was developing a MB nearby. But, the
  release of credits for that was at least two
  years away.

8
Mitigation Options

• In Lieu Fee Program
• There was only one In Lieu Fee Program, which was
  administered by Maryland Department of the
  Environment.
• It was forced to expire by USACE on 19 June 2013
  as it did not comply with the 2008 Compensatory
  Mitigation Requirements.

9
Mitigation Options

• On-site (but distant from the impact area)
• Review of the JB Andrews INRMP (2012) identified
  several sites far away from the flightline,
  adjacent to an existing wetland and identified
  for habitat management or restoration.
• But, the installation did not want to create
  additional wetlands.

10
Mitigation Options

• On-site (in the area of the impact)
• Intentionally placing wetlands in an active
  runway clearzone

11
Mitigation Options

• On-site (in the area of the impact)
• Intentionally placing wetlands in an active
  runway clearzone at the end of the main runway
  used by Air Force One.

12
Mitigation Requirements

• Meets the spirit of the regulation
• In-kind
• Include scrub-shrub and emergent marsh habitats
• Habitat value
• Could not be attractive to BASH species (limited
  seed production and limited refugia)
• Meets the regulatory definition of a wetland
• Hydric vegetation (FAC, FACW, or OBL) and
  evidence of hydrology
• Can withstand repeated mowing
• Take advantage of robust plant species that reach
  maturity (seed production) at heights above the
  mowing height.
• Native species that are commercially available

13
Mitigation Design
14
Preferred Mitigation Vegetation
Currently in Wetland orProposed for Planting Habit Common Name Scientific Name Native Status (N/I) Wetland Indicator Status Wildlife Value (include discussion)
Existing tree red maple Acer rubrum N FAC cover, roosting, browse, and limited seed production (geese)
Existing tree river birch Betula nigra N FACW cover, roosting, browse, and profuse seed production (geese and turkey)
Existing tree American holly Ilex opaca N FACU low
Existing tree sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua N FAC cover, roosting, browse, and limited seed production (songbirds)
Existing shrub dwarf St. Johns wort Hypericum mutilum N FACW low
Existing shrub winterberry Ilex verticillata N FACW- cover and roosting (songbirds)
Existing shrub Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica I FAC low
Existing shrub seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia N FACW low
Existing shrub highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum N FACW- cover, roosting, browse, and profuse fruit production (songbirds)
Existing herb creeping bentgrass Agrostis stolonifera I FACW profuse seed production (songbirds)
Existing herb strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus N FACW profuse seed production (songbirds)
Existing herb deertongue Dichantelium clandestinum N FAC profuse seed production (songbirds) and forage (deer)
Existing herb barnyardgrass Echinochloa crus-galli I FACU high, profuse seed production (songbirds) and forage (geese)
Existing herb blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa N OBL low
Existing herb Canadian rush Juncus canadensis N OBL low, limited seed production (songbirds)
Existing herb common rush Juncus effusus N FACW low, limited seed production (songbirds), reach 36" before seeds are produced
Existing herb common cattail Typha latifolia N OBL cover, roosting, forage (geese), and profuse seed production (songbirds)
Proposed herb fringed sedge Carex crinita N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 5' at maturity, moderate palatability
Proposed herb bladder sedge Carex intumescens N FACW low, limited seed production, reach 3' at maturity, low palatability
Proposed herb shallow sedge Carex lurida N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 3' at maturity, moderate palatability
Proposed herb upright sedge Carex stricta N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 4' at maturity, moderate palatability
Proposed herb fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 3' at maturity, moderate palatability
Proposed herb chufa Cyperus esculentus N FACW low, limited seed production, reach 0.7' at maturity, low palatability
Proposed herb three-way sedge Dulichium aruninaceum N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 2.6' at maturity, low palatability
Proposed herb hard fescue Festuca brevipila I NO low, high endophyte
Proposed herb sheep fescue Festuca ovina I NO low, high endophyte
Proposed herb Chewing's fescue Festuca rubra ssp. fallax I FACU low, high endophyte
Proposed herb creeping red fescue Festuca rubra ssp. rubra N FACU low, high endophyte
Proposed herb Canada manna grass Glyceria canadensis N OBL medium, limited seed production, reach 3' at maturity, high palatability
Proposed herb fowl manna grass Glyceria striata N OBL medium, limited seed production, reach 5' at maturity, high palatability
Proposed shrub giant St. Johns wort Hypericum ascyron N FAC low
Proposed herb blueflag iris Iris versicolor N OBL low, stone not profuse, forage (geese)
Proposed herb rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides N OBL medium, limited seed production, reach 4' before seeds produced, high palatability
Proposed herb cardinal flower Lobelia cardinalis N FACW low
Proposed herb perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne I FACU- low, high endophyte
Proposed herb Italian ryegrass Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum I FACU- low, high endophyte
Proposed herb reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea N FACW low, limited seed production, reach 5' before seeds produced, low palatability
Proposed herb tall fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus I FACU low, high endophyte
Proposed herb river bulrush Schoenoplectus fluviatilis N OBL forage (geese), reach 28"-79" before seeds are produced
Proposed herb soft-stem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 9' at maturity, low palatability
Proposed herb common threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens N FACW forage (geese), reach 60" before seeds are produced
Proposed herb green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens N OBL low, cover, reach 60" before seeds are produced
Proposed herb wool grass Scirpus cyperinus N FACW medium, limited seed production, reach 4' at maturity, moderate palatability
Proposed herb prairie cordgrass Spartina pectinata N FACW low, limited seed production, reach 8' at maturity, moderate palatability
15
USDA-WS Preferred Vegetation
Currently in Wetland orProposed for Planting Habit Common Name Scientific Name Native Status (N/I) Wetland Indicator Status Wildlife Value (include discussion)
Existing tree red maple Acer rubrum N FAC cover, roosting, browse, and limited seed production (geese)
Existing tree river birch Betula nigra N FACW cover, roosting, browse, and profuse seed production (geese and turkey)
Existing tree American holly Ilex opaca N FACU low
Existing tree sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua N FAC cover, roosting, browse, and limited seed production (songbirds)
Existing shrub dwarf St. Johns wort Hypericum mutilum N FACW low
Existing shrub winterberry Ilex verticillata N FACW- cover and roosting (songbirds)
Existing shrub Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica I FAC low
Existing shrub seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia N FACW low
Existing shrub highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum N FACW- cover, roosting, browse, and profuse fruit production (songbirds)
Existing herb creeping bentgrass Agrostis stolonifera I FACW profuse seed production (songbirds)
Existing herb strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus N FACW profuse seed production (songbirds)
Existing herb deertongue Dichantelium clandestinum N FAC profuse seed production (songbirds) and forage (deer)
Existing herb barnyardgrass Echinochloa crus-galli I FACU high, profuse seed production (songbirds) and forage (geese)
Existing herb blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa N OBL low
Existing herb Canadian rush Juncus canadensis N OBL low, limited seed production (songbirds)
Existing herb common rush Juncus effusus N FACW low, limited seed production (songbirds), reach 36" before seeds are produced
Existing herb common cattail Typha latifolia N OBL cover, roosting, forage (geese), and profuse seed production (songbirds)
Proposed herb fringed sedge Carex crinita N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 5' at maturity, moderate palatability
Proposed herb bladder sedge Carex intumescens N FACW low, limited seed production, reach 3' at maturity, low palatability
Proposed herb shallow sedge Carex lurida N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 3' at maturity, moderate palatability
Proposed herb upright sedge Carex stricta N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 4' at maturity, moderate palatability
Proposed herb fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 3' at maturity, moderate palatability
Proposed herb chufa Cyperus esculentus N FACW low, limited seed production, reach 0.7' at maturity, low palatability
Proposed herb three-way sedge Dulichium aruninaceum N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 2.6' at maturity, low palatability
Proposed herb hard fescue Festuca brevipila I NO low, high endophyte
Proposed herb sheep fescue Festuca ovina I NO low, high endophyte
Proposed herb Chewing's fescue Festuca rubra ssp. fallax I FACU low, high endophyte
Proposed herb creeping red fescue Festuca rubra ssp. rubra N FACU low, high endophyte
Proposed herb Canada manna grass Glyceria canadensis N OBL medium, limited seed production, reach 3' at maturity, high palatability
Proposed herb fowl manna grass Glyceria striata N OBL medium, limited seed production, reach 5' at maturity, high palatability
Proposed shrub giant St. Johns wort Hypericum ascyron N FAC low
Proposed herb blueflag iris Iris versicolor N OBL low, stone not profuse, forage (geese)
Proposed herb rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides N OBL medium, limited seed production, reach 4' before seeds produced, high palatability
Proposed herb cardinal flower Lobelia cardinalis N FACW low
Proposed herb perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne I FACU- low, high endophyte
Proposed herb Italian ryegrass Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum I FACU- low, high endophyte
Proposed herb reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea N FACW low, limited seed production, reach 5' before seeds produced, low palatability
Proposed herb tall fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus I FACU low, high endophyte
Proposed herb river bulrush Schoenoplectus fluviatilis N OBL forage (geese), reach 28"-79" before seeds are produced
Proposed herb soft-stem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 9' at maturity, low palatability
Proposed herb common threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens N FACW forage (geese), reach 60" before seeds are produced
Proposed herb green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens N OBL low, cover, reach 60" before seeds are produced
Proposed herb wool grass Scirpus cyperinus N FACW medium, limited seed production, reach 4' at maturity, moderate palatability
Proposed herb prairie cordgrass Spartina pectinata N FACW low, limited seed production, reach 8' at maturity, moderate palatability
16
Final Mitigation Vegetation
Currently in Wetland orProposed for Planting Habit Common Name Scientific Name Native Status (N/I) Wetland Indicator Status Wildlife Value (include discussion)
Existing tree red maple Acer rubrum N FAC cover, roosting, browse, and limited seed production (geese)
Existing tree river birch Betula nigra N FACW cover, roosting, browse, and profuse seed production (geese and turkey)
Existing tree American holly Ilex opaca N FACU low
Existing tree sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua N FAC cover, roosting, browse, and limited seed production (songbirds)
Existing shrub dwarf St. Johns wort Hypericum mutilum N FACW low
Existing shrub winterberry Ilex verticillata N FACW- cover and roosting (songbirds)
Existing shrub Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica I FAC low
Existing shrub seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia N FACW low
Existing shrub highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum N FACW- cover, roosting, browse, and profuse fruit production (songbirds)
Existing herb creeping bentgrass Agrostis stolonifera I FACW profuse seed production (songbirds)
Existing herb strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus N FACW profuse seed production (songbirds)
Existing herb deertongue Dichantelium clandestinum N FAC profuse seed production (songbirds) and forage (deer)
Existing herb barnyardgrass Echinochloa crus-galli I FACU high, profuse seed production (songbirds) and forage (geese)
Existing herb blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa N OBL low
Existing herb Canadian rush Juncus canadensis N OBL low, limited seed production (songbirds)
Existing herb common rush Juncus effusus N FACW low, limited seed production (songbirds), reach 36" before seeds are produced
Existing herb common cattail Typha latifolia N OBL cover, roosting, forage (geese), and profuse seed production (songbirds)
Proposed herb fringed sedge Carex crinita N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 5' at maturity, moderate palatability
Proposed herb bladder sedge Carex intumescens N FACW low, limited seed production, reach 3' at maturity, low palatability
Proposed herb shallow sedge Carex lurida N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 3' at maturity, moderate palatability
Proposed herb upright sedge Carex stricta N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 4' at maturity, moderate palatability
Proposed herb fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 3' at maturity, moderate palatability
Proposed herb chufa Cyperus esculentus N FACW low, limited seed production, reach 0.7' at maturity, low palatability
Proposed herb three-way sedge Dulichium aruninaceum N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 2.6' at maturity, low palatability
Proposed herb hard fescue Festuca brevipila I NO low, high endophyte
Proposed herb sheep fescue Festuca ovina I NO low, high endophyte
Proposed herb Chewing's fescue Festuca rubra ssp. fallax I FACU low, high endophyte
Proposed herb creeping red fescue Festuca rubra ssp. rubra N FACU low, high endophyte
Proposed herb Canada manna grass Glyceria canadensis N OBL medium, limited seed production, reach 3' at maturity, high palatability
Proposed herb fowl manna grass Glyceria striata N OBL medium, limited seed production, reach 5' at maturity, high palatability
Proposed shrub giant St. Johns wort Hypericum ascyron N FAC low
Proposed herb blueflag iris Iris versicolor N OBL low, stone not profuse, forage (geese)
Proposed herb rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides N OBL medium, limited seed production, reach 4' before seeds produced, high palatability
Proposed herb cardinal flower Lobelia cardinalis N FACW low
Proposed herb perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne I FACU- low, high endophyte
Proposed herb Italian ryegrass Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum I FACU- low, high endophyte
Proposed herb reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea N FACW low, limited seed production, reach 5' before seeds produced, low palatability
Proposed herb tall fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus I FACU low, high endophyte
Proposed herb river bulrush Schoenoplectus fluviatilis N OBL forage (geese), reach 28"-79" before seeds are produced
Proposed herb soft-stem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 9' at maturity, low palatability
Proposed herb common threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens N FACW forage (geese), reach 60" before seeds are produced
Proposed herb green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens N OBL low, cover, reach 60" before seeds are produced
Proposed herb wool grass Scirpus cyperinus N FACW medium, limited seed production, reach 4' at maturity, moderate palatability
Proposed herb prairie cordgrass Spartina pectinata N FACW low, limited seed production, reach 8' at maturity, moderate palatability
17
Pre-impact Wetland
18
Wetland Mitigation Construction
19
Wetland Mitigation Post-planting
20
Mitigation Monitoring Time Zero
21
Questions?