Initiative to Integrate an Initiative to Integrate an

Eco-Logical Approach Eco-Logical Approach

to to

Infrastructure DevelopmentInfrastructure Development

Air Quality Advisory Committee

July 24, 2008

USACE

US F&W

NRCS - MO

SWI RC&D/ USDA-NRCS

US EPA (Region 5 & 7)

National Park Service – Jefferson Memorial

Mo & IL DNR IL EPA MO Dept Conservation IL Historic Preserv. Agcy IL & MO Dept of Ag. Metro East Parks Dist. Great Rivers Greenway Metropolitan Sewer Dist.

Natural Resource Agencies

And the list is growing!

SAFETEA-LU

Metropolitan LRTPs shall be developed in consultation with State and local agencies responsible for: Land use management Natural resources Environmental protection Conservation Historic preservation

Consultation shall involve comparison of LRTPs with State conservation plans or maps; and/or Inventories of natural or historic resources.

SAFETEA-LU

LRTPs shall include discussion of Potential environmental mitigation activities Potential areas to carry out

Developed in consultation with Federal, State and Tribal Wildlife management Land management Regulatory

Goals for Initiative

“Ecosystem based approach - a process for the comprehensive management of land, water, biotic and abiotic resources that equitably promotes conservation and sustainable use”

Work cooperatively develop data and tools to evaluate the cumulative effects of LRTP on natural resources and conservation plans; and to identify opportunities for innovative approaches to mitigation

Improve coordination and communication with resource management agencies, share best practices, and to help guide the initiative

Reduce costs and delays associated with mitigating the impacts of project for both public agencies and private developers, MoDOT, IDOT, and Metro

Improve environmental outcomes for our region

Ecosystem Based Mitigation

“The process of restoring, creating, enhancing, and preserving habitat and other ecosystem features in

conjunction with or in advance of projects in areas where environmental needs and the potential environmental contributions have been determined to be greatest”

Extend compensatory mitigation options by offering ways to evaluate alternatives for off-site mitigation and/or out of kind mitigation

Develop ways of crediting mitigation that builds upon current approaches

Improve habitat connectivity and wildlife conservation while developing needed infrastructure

First steps…

Organize and facilitate policy and technical data review committee to guide process

Work with MoRAP and resource agencies to develop uniform, fine resolution landuse/land cover data to begin development of ecological significance data layer (1-2 meter res.)

Starting in Jefferson Co. as pilot area to establish methodology, then will apply to entire 8 county region next year

Combine landuse/land cover data with other data on historical vs current vegetation, endangered species, cultural and historic assets, conservation plans, etc. and work with agencies to prioritize areas based on their “significance” to conservation and preservation in St. Louis region

Area Near San Marcos, TX: Nested Image Objects using ECognition (15 meter resolution)

Resource Data & Plans

• Watersheds

• Prime farming soils

• Karst soils/areas

• Floodplain

• Threatened and endangered species

• Sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places

• Protected parks

• Wetlands

• Land Cover

• 303(d) streams/ All Streams

• Centennial farms(IL only)

• Illinois Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan and Strategy– Resource rich areas– Natural Areas Inventory– Conservation

Opportunity Areas• Missouri Comprehensive

Wildlife Strategy– Terrestrial and Aquatic

Conservation Opportunity Areas

• Metro Park District Plans – Greenways– MetroEast parks & trails

• East St. Louis and Vicinity Ecosystem Restoration and Flood Damage Reduction Project

Other Products of Initiative

Environmental Atlas

• Will include maps and descriptive narrative describing natural and cultural resources and existing conditions

• Will also include a summary of environmental stress analysis performed during last plan update

Develop an collection of best practices on planning and mitigation, including low-impact infrastructure designs that will be integrated into our Great Streets Digital Design Guide

Questions?

WWW.EWGATEWAY.ORG

Caroline TwenterCaroline.Twenter@ewgateway.org