conservation corridor planning and green infrastructure themes

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Conservation Corridor Planning

and Green Infrastructure

ThemesPrepared by the Green Infrastructure Center Inc.

and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission

February 22, 2011

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Brief Overview

Project Background

Green Infrastructure Principles and Planning

Base Map

Theme overlays –examples of heritage and nature based recreation

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Donors make it all possible!

This project is funded in part by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program at the Department of Environmental Quality through Grant #NAO9NOS4190163 of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended.

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Projected Growth• Northern Virginia has been

growing by about 35-38,000 people per year, on average, for more than 30 years

• By 2020, our population will reach 2.5 million

• Population growth is equivalent to adding a new county every eight years, with a population equivalent to the number living in Loudoun today—about 300,000

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What Can We Expect?

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Conservation Corridor Planningin Northern Virginia

– Refine state analyses using local data and priorities.– Identify & map high value cores and corridors across

the region.– Highlight opportunities for regional connections.– Quantify benefits of these areas.– Develop specific themed overlay maps to highlight

relationship of green infrastructure and uses– Develop model language for incorporation of GI/CC

into local planning efforts.– Develop communication products and strategy for

promoting conservation opportunities to elected officials and the public.

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Green Infrastructure Principles

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Infrastructure (n): the substructure or underlying foundation…on which the continuance and growth of a community or state depends.

Infrastructure: What’s in a name?

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A planimetric map of a Washington DC shows a neighborhood’s gray infrastructure including buildings and roads (left). Classified high-resolution satellite imagery adds a green infrastructure data layer (trees and other vegetation) (right). Source: American Forests

What is Green Infrastructure?

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Green Infrastructure Principles

“An interconnected network of a wide range of landscape elements that

support native species,

maintain natural ecological processes,

sustain air and water resources, and

contribute to the health and quality of life for communities and people.”

Source: Green Infrastructure: Linking Landscapes and Communities, Benedict and McMahon (2006)

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Green Infrastructure NetworkA green infrastructure network is made up of connected core habitats and connecting corridors that help animals, seeds, and people move across the landscape.

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Larger patches = large benefits

more interior species, larger populations, more habitat types

Smaller patches = supplemental benefits

act as stepping stones for species movement

Image source: Dramstad, Wenche E., et al. Landscape Ecology Principles in Landscape Architecture and Land Use Planning. Washington D.C., Island Press, 1996.

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Who prefers interior forest cores?

Birds, e.g. cerulean warbler, Scarlet tanager

Mammals, e.g. black bear, bobcat, n. flying squirrel

Amphibians, e.g. spotted salamander

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Which forests “intact” now and future?

Small parcels fragment forest into many owners

Large parcels create contiguous forest blocks

We use local parcel data to determine current and future intactness.

Timber Asset = Contiguous Large Forested Parcels (>20 acres). A wildlife asset = > 100 acres

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• Combating global warming (carbon sequestration) and improving air quality.

• Protects and preserves water quality and supply.

• Provides stormwater management, hazard mitigation.

• Preserves biodiversity and wildlife habitat.

• Improves quality of life and fitness by access to recreation.

Benefits of Conserving Green Infrastructure

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Where to develop?

SmartGrowth =

UsingExisting (grey) Infrastructure

But is this enough?

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Typical Plan =

Save ½Build ½

While this approach is simple, it does not conserve our best resources.

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Need to consider:

What are allthe assets?

Grey + Green =

Smart + Green

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Here’s the problem when cluster developments don’t look outside the parcel:

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Green infrastructure approachhelps keep corridors intact.

Undeveloped parcel: PDR, TDR, Easement?

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Virginia’s Comprehensive Planning§ 15.2-2230. Comp Plans reviewed at least once every 5 years.

“…careful and comprehensive surveys and studies of the existing conditions and trends of growth, and of the probable future requirements of its territory and inhabitants.” “…guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development …which will, in accordance with present and probable future needs and resources, promote the health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity and general welfare of the inhabitants…

Zoning must be “in accordance” with comprehensive plans – so comp plans should include maps of key

natural assets.

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1) Asset Mapping (what are the existing ecological, cultural and economic assets)

2) Risk Assessment (which of the assets above are at risk)

3) Opportunities (what kind of community do we want? what projects, programs, policies to ensure assets conserved?)

4) Policy Implementation (adoption of asset maps, strategy maps, integrate into comprehensive plans, park plans etc.)

GI Planning Steps

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Park and open space planning

Identify lands for PDR or TDR programs

New ordinance development

Species protection

Heritage tourism and viewsheds

Ag and Forestal Districts

Transportation planning: roads/trails

Green Infrastructure Planning Applications

Public

Private

Regulatory Voluntary

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In Summary, Green Infrastructure Planning …

Helps localities make better decisions about where, when and how to grow.

Strengthens and integrates existing planning efforts.

Provides an inventory of natural assets that are critical to healthy communities.

Protects valuable community resources and character.

Makes economic sense = smart green growth!

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VA Natural Landscape Assessment – Forest Habitats

Cultural Model – Historic Resources Vulnerability Model -- -Growth predictions and threats

Forest Economics Model – Economically viable forests

Agricultural Model – Lands suitable for farming

Recreation Model – Trails, Parks, Hunting and Fishing

Watershed Integrity Model

Ecological Integrity

Priority Conservation Assessment (multiple species)

For general information: www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/vclnagrn.shtml

For simple maps: http://www.vaconservedlands.org/gis.aspx

New Virginia Modeling Tools

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VaNLA

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PCA

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High Priority Conservation Areas+

Connected, Good Quality Landscapes+

Contributing Landscapes

Base Green Infrastructure Network

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Developing a Northern Virginia Base MapData Sources

Virginia Department of Forestry – Land Cover & Forest Cover

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation –VaNLA, Conserved Lands

USGS – National Hydrology Dataset FWS – National Wetland Inventory Local GIS Managers – CBPA, streams, parks, etc.

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Base Green Infrastructure Network

High Value Cores NVRC

Natural Land Network DCR-DNH

Contributing Landscapes DCR-DNH

Tree Canopy VDOF

Land CoverRural LandsUrban Developed Lands

VDOF (2005)

Major Rivers USGS - NHD

Lakes/Ponds USGS - NHD

Streams USGS - NHD

Neighbors

Stafford County Cores GWRC

DC NVRC

Maryland GreenPrint MD DNR

State Forest Cover VDOF

Northern Virginia Region Boundary NVRC

Roads VDOT

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High value resources currently unprotected?

Opportunities to expand buffer along conserved lands?

DRAFT

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An example of a cross-countyopportunity

DRAFT

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206.2 acres of Tier 1 Habitat

DoI = 300 acres

4 Elements of Occurrence

LoudounCounty

FairfaxCounty

% Tree Canopy 87.4 percent(738.8 acres)

Lbs of Air Pollutants removed 74,416($199,246)

Tons of Carbon StoredTons of Carbon Sequestered

31,790247

Cu. Ft of Stormwater Retained (estimated)

4,832,337 cu. ft($28,994,024)

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What is a theme?Essentially a theme refers to the a type of information that we want to overlay on the base map to see new relationships. Any land use issue could be come a theme.

The purpose is to highlight new relationships.

To use for planning and prioritizing conservation.

Could also be used to look for conflicts or challenges.

Themes determined for this project include, agriculture, nature based recreation, heritage and water resources.

Wildlife and forest habitats are included within the base map.Following are some examples from other projects…

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New Kent County 2007

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Watershed Protection: Riparian Corridors

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Accomack County: Priority habitat and wildlife conservation areas.Protected or least likely to change (purple) and areas needing special attention for conservation (green).

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Accomack County: fishery and recreation economy

Components include:Water accessWatershedsSAVOyster, clam bedsFishery mgmt. areas

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Accomack Storm Surge Zones

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Green Assets: Water

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Green Assets: Water - Challenges

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Green Assets: Water - Recommendations•Protect forested land adjacent to headwaters

•Increase forest cover adjacent to proposed reservoir by 200%.

•Restrict steep slope development.

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Green Assets: Water - Recommendations•Protect riparian buffer along wildlife corridor waterways.

•Concentrate stream bank restoration along impaired waterways lacking forest cover.

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Green Assets: Water - Recommendations•Require developers to mitigate tree removals.

•Restore or conserve the riparian buffer in urban areas.

•Require LID for all development + redevelopment.

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EndNorthern Virginia Regional

Commissionwww.novaregion.org/

Green Infrastructure Center www.gicinc.org