Riparian Ecosystem Health: How would restoration benefit KC?

Transcription

1 Riparian Ecosystem Health: How would restoration benefit KC?

2 Toward a Kansas City Metropolitan Conservation Plan

3 Point #0. KC Region has a large riparian system.

4 Upland Resources Water Resources Parks and Open Space Starting Points

5 Protected Riparian Buffers Now Need Management Existing Natural Resource Parks and Open Space Protected Buffer ~90,000 acres Ecological Buffers

6 Point #1. Riparian ecosystem health has changed over time.

7 Healthy Historic Landscapes Diverse Dynamic Productive Stingy

8 Upland, Riparian and Stream Ecosystem Degradation Trends

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13 Linear regression analysis, Des Plaines River Discharge at Riverside, Illinois, , (Apfelbaum, 1983) HIGH FLOWS High flows have doubled From , 1.5 high flows/yr Presently, 3-5 high flows/yr MEDIAN FLOWS 100 Median flows are 400 times higher LOW FLOWS Low flows are 250 times higher

14 Point #2. Land-use changes have contributed significant changes in upland, riparian and stream ecosystem health.

15 Historic River Swale

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18 DEGRADATION OF WETLANDS

19 Point #3. Remaining upland riparian ecosystems have really changed!

20 Healthy & Degraded Oak Savanna

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23 Point #4. Riparian Ecosystem Restoration is a well established science.

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26 Erosion Control

27 North Avenue Dam Shoreline Stabilization

28 Point #5. Projects focused on Riparian Ecosystem Restoration often start with reducing runoff.

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31 Otter Creek Bend Wetland Park

32 CONCEPTUAL PLANS

33 Otter Creek Bend Wetland Park

34 EXCAVATING THE HISTORIC SWALES

35 SEEDING AND PLANTING

36 SITE INUNDATION

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38 Wetland Restoration and Mitigation

39 And, Point #6.--- Restoring streams and floodplain environments.

40 Creating Developments that contribute to Watershed Restoration

41 Day-lighting historic riparian areas Ecological Design

42 And, Point #7. Converting high maintenance landscapes, into restored riparian habitats.

43 HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN? Site Analysis, Design, and Planning Process

44 Naturalizing Parks COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC EDUCATION

45 PLANTING RIPARIAN HABITAT (PRAIRIE) Construction and Long-Term Maintenance

46 Langendorf Park Illinois A high Maintenance (costly) lawn converted to a passive nature park. This change has saved ~ $500,000 annually.

47 King s Brook Crossing Illinois Before After Restoring eroded shoreline saved $350,000 in rip rap costs.

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49 And, Point #8. Converting high maintenance landscapes, into restored habitats has been done at Church s, Schools, National Parks, Mined Lands, and residential yards and corporate campuses.

50 National Park Restoration

51 Flambeau Mine Ladysmith, WI

52 Mined (Brownfield) Land Reclamation Before After

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55 And, Point #9. Some cities are restoring entire systems.

56 Toronto Riverfront Revitalization Toronto, Canada

57 57 Toronto, Don River

58 Duffins Transect 2 Transect 1 58

59 59 Avian System Restoration

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62 62 Fisheries System Restoration

63 And, Point #10. Transitioning to restored riparian systems can use O and M money for parks.

64 Break Even Analysis: Lawns vs Restoration ($/acre-year) Costs Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Year 13 Year 14 Year 15 Year 16 Year 17 Year 18 Year 19 Year 20 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Year 13 Year 14 Year 15 Year 16 Year 17 Year 18 Year 19 Year 20 Low Restoration cost range $25,000 $20,000 3 Years $15,000 $10,000 $5,000 Mowed Lawn Restoration $- Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Year 13 Year 14 Year 15 Year 16 Year 17 Year 18 Year 19 Year 20 Average Restoration cost range $25,000 $20,000 $15,000 $10,000 $5,000 $- 5 Years $25,000 $20,000 $15,000 $10,000 $5,000 $- High Restoration cost range 8 Years

65 What is included in Cost? Lawn maintenance = $12,500 per acre/year Labor, training, gas, turf repair, leaf collections, fertilizer, herbicide, maintenance of equipment, staff labor costs, equipment mobilization to and from parks, overhead, depreciation, insurance, benefits.

66 And, Point #11. Most concerns are not real!

67 Addressing Perceptions and Risks Produce a new generation in about 2 weeks Generally need stagnant shady water to breed The mosquito Prime breeding habit includes storm sewers, bird baths, old tires, and anywhere water pools and sits protected from wind

68 What is Acceptable Urban Ecological System Low (cost) Maintenance? 68

69 Can we restore habitat for rare species? 69

70 And, Point #12. Beauty, lower costs, quickly trump concerns.

71 Aesthetic and Functioning Stormwater Management Systems NURP Pond Vegetated Biofilter Wetland

72 Riparian Buffer Restoration--only vegetation management Two Years Later Before Brushing

73 73 Applied Ecological Services Inc.