clark street beach bird habitat restoration
DESCRIPTION
On April 8, Evanston community members attended the City’s Clark Street Beach Bird Habitat Restoration Project meeting to share feedback that will be used to determine promising restoration design concepts for the area.TRANSCRIPT
Public Works
Clark Street BeachBird Habitat Restoration
Public Works
Clark Street Beach - Bird Habitat Restoration
TEAM
City of Evanston Public Works/Parks & Recreation
Consultants
Landscape Architect Kettelkamp & KettelkampRyan Kettelkamp/Dave Lawrie
Restoration Specialist Christopher B. Burke EngineeringRobert Sliwinski
Bird Conservationist Judy Pollock
Migratory Birds
Public Works
Clark Street Beach - Bird Habitat Restoration
“The City’s Goal for this project is torestore the impacted bird habitat atClark Street Beach by developing asuitable environment to support andenhance use by migratory birds.”
Per the City’s Tree Preservation Ordinance, NUwas required to pay a Tree Replacement Fee forthe removal of 275 trees on the City’s property.
$173,000
PROJECT SCHEDULE 2015
• Public Review Process Apr-May • Design/Construction Documents Jun-Jul • Bidding Process /Select Contractor Aug • Implementation Sept–Oct
Public Works
Pre‐existing Conditions
• Dense Woodland (Structure)• Dune Habitat
• Bird Survey• Plant Survey
Clark Street Beach - Bird Habitat Restoration
Public Works
Habitat Removal
Area removed due to Northwestern Visitor Center construction & fire lane
Clark Street Beach - Bird Habitat Restoration
Public Works
Current Condition
New Visitor Center & Fire Lane
Remnant Grove
• Wooded to west• Low area in the middle• Volunteer Cottonwoods to the east
Clark Street Beach - Bird Habitat Restoration
Public Works
Existing Vegetation
• NU planted dunegrass around building(Installed & Maintained by NU)
• Central Zone along jogging path towards beach house (under City control)
• Additive planting to enhance bird habitat
Clark Street Beach - Bird Habitat Restoration
Public Works
Expand new habitat into Clark Street Beach to ensure net balance of habitat area.
Clark Street Beach - Bird Habitat Restoration
Public Works
Consolidated Bird Habitat
• Fenced off to protect plantings• Fencing provides limited access to
beach• Volleyball net poles adjusted• Beach tractor rake access maintained
Clark Street Beach - Bird Habitat Restoration
Public Works
Clark Street Beach - Bird Habitat Restoration
STRUCTURE
Bird Habitat Plantings
Four Levels of Structure for Birds:
• Upper Canopy (Tall Trees)• Middle Canopy (Smaller Trees)• Shrub Layer• Ground Layer (Forbs, Grasses and
Leaf Litter)
Public Works
Clark Street Beach - Bird Habitat Restoration
REMOVE
Selective clearing of undesirable plant material
• Public safety (Ash trees)• Overly Competitive (Grape Vine)• Allow plant succession (Cottonwoods)• Pruning to re‐invigorate plants (Dogwood)
Public Works
Clark Street Beach - Bird Habitat Restoration
PLANT
• Trees & Shrubs• Bur & Black Oak• Hawthorn• Redosier & Gray Dogwood• Ninebark & Potentilla
• Wildflower/Grass plug planting• Seeding
• Planting treatment intensity depends on zone.
• Remnant Core 25% treatment• Central Strip 50%• Beach 75%
• Sand conditions limit plant choice.
Public Works
Clark Street Beach - Bird Habitat Restoration
PROTECT
Slatted Beach Fencing
• Protect habitat & new planting • Rabbit damage• People trampling plants
• Limit public access to beach & habitat.
Public Works
Clark Street Beach - Bird Habitat Restoration
MAINTAIN
Volunteers • Evanston Tree Keepers• Birding Groups• Scouts
Liaison with Botany & Ecology Department NU
Prepare Management Strategy to ensure suitable habitat establishes and is maintained.
• Monitoring• Removal of undesirable plants• Ongoing education
Public Works
Clark Street Beach - Bird Habitat Restoration
MIGRATORY BIRDS
About 280 species of birds migrate through the Chicago area annually:• Warblers (32 species)• Sparrows (18 species)• Flycatchers (10 species)• Thrushes, Vireos, Wrens, Blackbirds,
Evanston’s lakeshore location, north of “corn‐soybean desert” on Lake Michigan, makes it a critical stopping‐off point for migrating birds.
Habitat also provides food:• Insects • Nectar• Fruit• Seeds• Buds
Public Works
Clark Street Beach - Bird Habitat Restoration
DISCUSSION
• Plant Material• Protection• Wildlife being served• Habitat Structure• Public Involvement