Free Bridge Area Congestion Relief Study: Regional Ecological Framework Tool: Function and Data

January 15, 2014

Charlottesville Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) and The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission

Introduction:

Presentation Overview

1. Goals

2. Regional Ecological Framework (REF) Tool Refresher

3. Current Datasets incorporated in the REF

4. Discussion of Example Analyses of Alternatives

5. Overview of Group Work and Todays Tasks

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Project Goals:

Goals of Stakeholder Group

• To develop a viable project option for improving congestion issues at US 250 Free Bridge.

• To enhance and improve the existing Regional Ecological Framework (REF) Tool.

Goals of Eco-Logical Program Grant

• To test the Eco-Logical approach for infrastructure planning and development on a local scale.

• Increase awareness of Eco-Logical approach among federal, state, and local transportation and resources agencies.

Eco-Logical and REF Sub goals :

• Enhance and improve the existing REF environmental dataset

– Inclusion of additional environmental data

– Review of existing data rankings

• Build additional module that incorporates social, cultural and economic interests

– Identify appropriate data for tool

– Assign appropriate ranks to data and attributes

• Increase awareness and understanding of Eco-Logical among local governments, state agencies and the public

• Apply the tool and processes to the Free Bridge Congestion Relief Study

The REF:

The Regional Ecological Framework tool was developed by TJPDC with funding from FHWA. The Tool is made up of ten environmental spatial datasets which were included at the suggestion of an advisory committee.

• The tool was built using GIS and is designed to function in GIS

• It consists of a rasterized heat map

• Uses existing GIS functions and tools to conduct analyses.

• Made up of 10 different spatial environmental datasets overlaid spatially

• Datasets and attributes ranked then aggregated to form the heat map

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Functions of the REF:

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The REF tool’s functionality includes the ability to:

1. Help project planners identify areas of higher and lower regional ecological value.

• Provides a heat map of ecological value sourced from various spatial datasets

2. The scoring of projects and alternatives based on potential ecological impact.

• GIS tools used to overlay project information and routes on top of REF

• Calculates an average impact score known as the REF score

3. Identification of a least ecologically damaging alternative (path of least impact).

• Uses GIS tools to calculate a least cost path between two points

4. Provide guidance on mitigation options regionally rather on a project specific basis.

• Identifies stream and wetland mitigation opportunities

Functions of the REF:

Ecological Value

• Map regional ecology and establish a way for identifying areas of higher ecological density or value in the Planning District.

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Functions of the REF:

Project Scoring

• This function of the tool allows users to compute an ecological impact score for each project.

• Scores can be compared to different scenarios and to a regional average.

• Average Eco-Logical score in the MPO is 7.03.

• Average Eco-Logical score of existing roadways in the MPO is 4.5

• Average Eco-Logical Score for the PDC is 6.0.

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Functions of the REF:

Least Ecological Cost Path

• This function allows planners and designers to identify the alignment with the least damage to the Regional Ecological Framework.

• It can be used during the NEPA process to identify the alternative that most effectively avoids and minimizes impacts to critical resources

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Functions of the REF:

Identifying Regional Stream and Wetland Mitigation Priorities

• The REF provided a foundation for identifying regional mitigation priorities and opportunities. Analysis was done on a regional scale to identify regional mitigation priorities.

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• Mitigation sites that enhance the Regional Ecological Framework were strategically identified.

• REF used as a tool to identify possible regional priority sites for

• Stream mitigation

• Wetland mitigation

• Provides opportunity for partnership

REF Current Datasets: REF Datasets

• Current datasets are limited to environmental datasets that focus on regulated features, species and habitats

– Wetlands

– Water Bodies

– Threatened and Endangered Species locations and Habitats

• The future iteration of the tool will include new datasets that have since been developed by regulatory agencies

– US ACE surveyed wetlands database

– US FWS IPaC

• A new module will be built that helps to incorporate the built environment and culture into the tool

– Historic sites and districts

– Existing built environment

– Places of community importance

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REF Datasets:

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Dataset Description

1 DGIF Tiered Species Habitat (terrestrial and

aquatic)

The dataset highlights wildlife conservation opportunities in the Commonwealth. The data focuses on tier I and tier II listed species with mapped potential habitat.

2 DGIF Threatened & Endangered Species Waters The dataset Identifies water bodies that contain documented occurrences of Federal or state listed threatened or endangered specie.

3DGIF Species Observations - Diversity, # of Species Present

The dataset contains species observation data derived from various data sources and surveys.

4 DCR Virginia Natural Landscape Assessment (VaNLA)

The dataset contains statewide information on natural lands. The dataset was derived from satellite imagery and identifies large cores of intact habitat. Cores are ranked based on size and ecological integrity

5 DCR Priority Conservation Sites The dataset is a tool for identifying key areas that are worthy of protection stewardship action because of the natural heritage resources that they contain.

6 Audubon Important Bird Areas The dataset identifies areas that are vital to birds and their biodiversity.

7 USFWS National Wetlands Inventory The dataset provides current geospatially referenced information on the location and extent of wetlands.

8 DCR VCLNA Watershed Integrity Model The dataset shows the relative value of land as it contributes to watershed or water quality integrity.

9 NHD 1:100,000 streams The dataset is a comprehensive database that contains information about the location and type of water bodies in the United States.

10 DGIF Cold Water Stream Survey - Classes I - IV - 100' buffer

The dataset is the results of DGIF's efforts to survey streams for trout suitability.

REF Modeling Results: Applying REF to Eastern Connector Study Alternatives • 7 Alternatives suggested by The Eastern Connector Study were analyzed

• Each alternative was modeled and scored against the REF using GIS

• A least Cost Path was also calculated for each Project

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Project Name Average Eco-

Logical Score

(mean)

Score

Per

Mile

Length

(miles)

2 Lane E. Connector 6.45 144.9 0.49 2 Lane E. Connector Pen Park Road

Improvements* 2.00 46.4 0.69

4 Lane E. Connector 5.81 189.8 0.49 4Lane E. Connector Pen Park Road

Improvements* 2.00 72.5 0.69

I-64 Widening (East) 5.10 151.3 6.24 I-64 Widening (West) 5.36 142.4 6.21 Limited Access 250 3.73 113.3 2.7 South Pantops Drive Connector 8.00 222.2 0.18 State Farm Blvd Connector 4.92 96.7 0.61

*Pen Park Road was modeled separately from potential Eastern Connector

Findings

• Least Cost Path function works best start and end points in close proximity to each other

• Additional Datasets will enhance accuracy

• Highest scored alternative was South Pantops Dr and the lowest score was limited access US-250

REF Modeling Results:

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Todays Tasks:

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TJPDC staff is asking the Stakeholder Committee to work in small groups to do the following:

1. Become more familiar with the REF

2. Provide local or professional knowledge about resources and datasets

3. Review existing REF Datasets and the associated attribute scores

4. Help Staff Identify gaps in the existing tool

5. Suggest additional environmental, Social and Cultural Datasets that should be added to the tool

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REF Scores: The REF Data Score Sheet is intended to help stakeholders provide feedback on the existing datasets in the REF. If a group feels strongly that an existing attribute rank should be changed they can use this form to indicate what and why.

Dataset AttributeExisting

Rank

Change

Rank? New Rank Comments Comments

2 10

1 8

Audubon Important

Bird Areas4 YES 2 No important bird areas exist in the M PO area. Data should therefore be ranked lower.

wetlands 8 YES 9 It is critically important to protect wetlands, especially those in urban areas

200' buffer 6 YES 8

5 N/A

4 8

3 6

2 4

1 2

1st order 50' buffer 3

2nd order 75' buffer 3

3rd order and

above100' buffer 3

Class I 7

Class II 6

Class II I 5

Class IV 4

DGIF Cold Water

Stream Survey

Where 1:100,000 streams intersect with cold water

streams, cold water stream ranks prevail

DCR VCLNA Watershed

Integri ty Model

NHD 1:100,000 streams

Where buffers intersect, keep larger buffer.

USFWS National

Wetlands Inventory

Small Groups Existing REF Data Score Sheet

DGIF Tiered Species

Habitat (terrestria l and

aquatic)

Variety

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REF Scores: The REF Data Score Sheet is intended to help stakeholders provide feedback on the existing datasets in the REF. If a group feels strongly that an existing attribute rank should be changed they can use this form to indicate what and why.

Dataset AttributeExisting

Rank

Change

Rank? New Rank Comments Comments

2 10

1 8

Audubon Important

Bird Areas4 YES 2 No important bird areas exist in the M PO area. Data should therefore be ranked lower.

wetlands 8 YES 9 It is critically important to protect wetlands, especially those in urban areas

200' buffer 6 YES 8

5 N/A

4 8

3 6

2 4

1 2

1st order 50' buffer 3

2nd order 75' buffer 3

3rd order and

above100' buffer 3

Class I 7

Class II 6

Class II I 5

Class IV 4

DGIF Cold Water

Stream Survey

Where 1:100,000 streams intersect with cold water

streams, cold water stream ranks prevail

DCR VCLNA Watershed

Integri ty Model

NHD 1:100,000 streams

Where buffers intersect, keep larger buffer.

USFWS National

Wetlands Inventory

Small Groups Existing REF Data Score Sheet

DGIF Tiered Species

Habitat (terrestria l and

aquatic)

Variety

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Dataset Name: Forest Conservation Value

Brief Description:

Source: Virginia Department of Forestry

Appropriate Contact:

Category: Environmental X Social, Cultural and Economic

Other Notes:

Dataset Name: Historic and Archeological sites

Brief Description:

Source: Virginia Department of Historic Resources

Appropriate Contact:

Category: Environmental Social, Cultural and Economic X

Other Notes:

Small Groups Additional Dataset Form

The Virginia Department of Forestry has established a relative Forest Conservation Value (FCV) for all of the forestland in the state. This FCV ranking is based on the level of benefits provided by a particular area of forest in combination with the level of threat the area faces from conversion to another land use, primarily to development.

Current REF tool lacks information about forest lands. Forest lands provide important habitats for a variety of important species. In addition forestry is an important industry and source of revenue in the region.

Historic and Archeological sites along with listed historic districts ar impotant parts of a communities identiy and hearitage. The tool should considers such sites in its scoring of project alternatives.

Historic and Archeological sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places should be included in the built enviornment/cultural tool. These sites are regulated by DHR and The Department of the Interior.

Provide the name of the dataset

Brief description of the data

Source

Contact name if known

Use this space to provide us with any other information

Urbanized Area:

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Free Bridge

Contact Information: Wood Hudson

Senior Environmental Planner Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission

(434) 979-7310 whudson@tjpdc.org

Questions?

Small Group Breakout Session

Task one – Use Worksheet One: Small Groups Existing REF Data Score Sheet • Review each dataset using the REF Report as a reference • Evaluate the current attribute ranking in the context of the project and the tool

• Is the dataset an important measure or representation of important habitats or ecologically important resources in the urban area (MPO Boundary)? • Has the dataset been ranked appropriately in the context of the urban area and project study location? • Should the dataset’s attributes be ranked lower or higher? If so why?

Task Two - Use Worksheet Two: Small Groups Additional Dataset Form • To suggest any additional data that you think should be included in the rebuild of the REF tool.

• Data can either be environmental (forests, wetlands, endangered species, floodplains etc) • Or related to the built environment (roads, buildings, schools, historic properties etc)

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Dataset Description

1 DGIF Tiered Species Habitat (terrestrial and aquatic)

The dataset highlights wildlife conservation opportunities in the Commonwealth. The data focuses on tier I and tier II listed species with mapped potential habitat.

2 DGIF Threatened & Endangered Species Waters The dataset Identifies water bodies that contain documented occurrences of Federal or state listed threatened or endangered specie.

3 DGIF Species Observations - Diversity, # of Species Present

The dataset contains species observation data derived from various data sources and surveys.

4 DCR Virginia Natural Landscape Assessment (VaNLA)

The dataset contains statewide information on natural lands. The dataset was derived from satellite imagery and identifies large cores of intact habitat. Cores are ranked based on size and ecological integrity

5 DCR Priority Conservation Sites The dataset is a tool for identifying key areas that are worthy of protection stewardship action because of the natural heritage resources that they contain.

6 Audubon Important Bird Areas The dataset identifies areas that are vital to birds and their biodiversity.

7 USFWS National Wetlands Inventory The dataset provides current geospatially referenced information on the location and extent of wetlands.

8 DCR VCLNA Watershed Integrity Model The dataset shows the relative value of land as it contributes to watershed or water quality integrity.

9 NHD 1:100,000 streams The dataset is a comprehensive database that contains information about the location and type of water bodies in the United States.

10 DGIF Cold Water Stream Survey - Classes I - IV - 100' buffer

The dataset is the results of DGIF's efforts to survey streams for trout suitability.