smart growth strategies- mike kane

PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCILPIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL

Smart Growth Strategies to Support Clean Water

Michael Kane

Piedmont Environmental Council

Choose Clean Water

June 4, 2012


A non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the Piedmont’s

rural economy, natural resources, history and beauty

since 1972.

PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL

Conservation efforts within the Piedmont have preserved 300,000 acres within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, andmost with riparian buffers.

Washington DC

The Piedmont

Chesapeake Bay Watershed


Warrenton

Our Region

Washington

Leesburg

To Charlottesville

Fredericksburg

Annapolis

Waldorf

Piedmont Environmental Council


Tremendous Land Conversion and Development

• Over 47,000 new housing units constructed between 2000 to 2010 (76% increase)

• Over 142,000 new residents 2000 to 2010 (84% increase)

• Over 53,000 acres of farmland lost between 1997 and 2007

• A decade of land disturbance and growing impervious surface

Loudoun County, Virginia


Does land use policy matter?

• More land disturbance

• More impervious surface

• Relies on gray infrastructure to provide WQ solutions

• Minimizes land disturbance

• Minimizes impervious surface

• Relies on green infrastructure to provide WQ solutions


Does land use policy matter?

It matters if you care about the cost of compliance.


An Integrated Approach

• Attention to land use and transportation planning that focuses on smart growth alternatives

• Strategically conserve land

• Encourage best management practices on agricultural lands

• Promote and provide guidance for creating sustainable wildlife habitat on private lands

• Foster citizen engagement and the creation of a community wide conservation ethic


Smart Growth—Urban and Suburban Context

Well-designed, higher density development can be good for the environment, especially when located in areas that are already developed, are walkable, and are served by transit. Good design includes parks and low impact development for stormwater management.


Smart Growth—Rural Landscape Conservation

• Protect critical natural systems and resources

• Preserve an area’s unique identity—its “sense of place”

• Promote rural economy compatible with the landscape

• Direct growth to where it can be supported

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http://www.greatcountryfarms.com/


Land Use Plan—Foundation for Landscape Conservation

• Loudoun County Revised General Plan (2002)

• Rural / Agricultural Zoning (2003)

• Maintain rural road network

• Policies supporting preservation of natural, historic, and scenic resources


In 2002, 25,850 acres of conserved land

Loudoun’s surprising conservation story


By 2012, more than 50,000 acres of conserved land

Over 25,000 acres conserved between 2002 and 2012

97% increase in land conserved over the past decade



WHO CARES! The rural land use policies and subsequent land

conservation only maintain current conditions. They do little to substantively improve water quality now.



Strategic Conservation—Goose Creek Watershed

Goose Creek Watershed

Thousands of residents and businesses in Northern Virginia rely on the Goose Creek watershed to provide a safe and adequate supply of public drinking water


Historic Landscape

• 16 state and national historic districts

• Civil War battlefields

Scenic Beauty

• State designated Scenic River

• 17 state designated Scenic Byways

Natural Resources

• Diverse Piedmont habitats

• Public and private drinking water source

• Basic inputs essential to a vibrant and diverse rural economy

The Goose Creek Watershed…….a remarkable landscape.


PEC Strategic Initiatives—Goose Creek Watershed

• Watershed Planning—Funded Watershed Assessment in partnership with Goose Creek Association and Ctr for Watershed Protection

• Conservation—Employed $185K from GC Conservation Fund to preserve 5 key properties totaling 2,246 acres

• Land Use—Established Western Goose Creek Conservation Fund to address ensure integrity of land use plan and zoning

• BMPs—Partnered with Goose Creek Association to launch the “Goose Creek Challenge”

Highlights include:


Conservation in the Goose Creek Watershed

• Over 83,000 acres conserved in the watershed (34%)

• Over 39,000 acres conserved since 2002 (87% increase)

• Most new easements include riparian buffer provisions

• Many amended easements that include riparian buffer provisions


Conservation provides the platform for restoration

• 91 miles of fencing (VA Ag BMP)

• 738 acres of stream buffer through CREP & VA Ag BMP

• 117 acres of DOF reforestation

• 250 water troughs

• Cover crops and no-till

Over 800 Ag Best Management practices completed in the watershed

Between 2003 and 2010:


PEC’s Sustainable Habitat Program

• Advising landowners on managing land for habitat

• Coordinating collaborations among neighbors on habitat restoration

• Partnering with HOAs on sustainable landscaping practices


Making the land use connection

Sound Land Use Planning leads to…

Opportunities for landscape scale conservation that provide…

A platform for improving land management that facilitate…

Water quality improvements


Thank You!

Michael KaneLand Conservation OfficerPiedmont Environmental [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

smart growth strategies- mike kane

Technology

acres ofconserved land

land use planfoundation

rural land use policies

land use policy matter

decade of land disturbance

conservation efforts

tremendous land conversion

historic landscape