NCCP Preserve Management Challenges and Opportunities
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Benefits and Challenges of NCCP Preserve Management and Permitting Benefits and Challenges of NCCP Preserve Management and Permitting
description
This presentation was given to the AEP San Diego Chapter in February 2012. The presentation discusses the use of mitigation banks to promote preserve management and management challenges and opportunities
Transcript of NCCP Preserve Management Challenges and Opportunities
Benefits and Challenges of NCCP Preserve Management and PermittingBenefits and Challenges of NCCP Preserve Management and Permitting
Status Quo Management
Preserve Assembly has been historic NCCP focus
Management entities often aim to maintain status quo, not self-sustainability
Preserves are subject to long term adverse modification
Down Trend Factors
Seed Banks Matter
Habitat resilience and persistence is dependent on a healthy native seed bank
Active habitat restoration begins to reverse seed bank imbalance
Habitat Seeds/ftCSS in LA County 278.0Chaparral 556.1Chaparral 1,853.6CSS in Baja 1,112.1Grassland in Northern California 926.8
Native Prairie 46.5Disturbed Prairie 1,858.7Cultivated Soils 14,591.1
Seed Bank Imbalances
Individual weed plants can produce incredible seed counts
Seed banks must be addressed in an aggressive manner to be effective
AGL (seeds/ft) CSS (seeds/ft)*Exotic Grasses 674.8 365.4Exotic Forbs 438.1 104.7Total Weeds 1,112.8 470.1Native Shrubs 0.0 0.6Native Forbs 37.8 74.3Native Grasses 0.1 0.0Total Natives 38.0 75.0Total Seeds 1,175.0 559.8*Note: CSS was described as "heavily invaded by exotic grasses"
Shipley Preserve in Western Riverside County
Up Trend Factors
Abandoned Road Restoration
Legacy land uses can create long term management problems• Interruption of upland hydrology
• Runoff concentration leading to erosion
• Loss of soil fines; water holding capacity
• Increased unwanted public access
Road restoration methods• Re-grade cut/fill road beds
• Import good quality soils
• Apply seed and other BMPs
Goal = Self-Sustainability
Mitigation Banking and In-Lieu Fee Programs
Mitigation Bank
• Pre-mitigation credits; lower ratios
• High upfront costs
In-Lieu Fee
• No pre-mitigation credit; higher ratios
• Pay as you go
Mitigation Banking and In-Lieu Fee Programs
Leverage mitigation dollars
Mitigation consolidation consistent with NCCP
Uplands improvements benefit wetlands
Current Efforts
Adopt ecological timeframe: 10 yrs.+
Rely on passive recruitment
Irvine Ranch Conservancy: Restoration and Resilience Program
City of San Diego in-lieu fee program
Potential Progress
More effort needed to manage resources toward self-sustainability
Mitigation banks and in-lieu fees can be leveraged to promote self-sustainability through active restoration
For More Information Contact:
Michael Sweesy, RLA
Habitat Restoration Specialist
760.479.4253
