Upload
others
View
1
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Conservation Corridor Planning
and Green Infrastructure
ThemesPrepared by the Green Infrastructure Center Inc.
and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission
February 22, 2011
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Brief Overview
Project Background
Green Infrastructure Principles and Planning
Base Map
Theme overlays –examples of heritage and nature based recreation
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Donors make it all possible!
This project is funded in part by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program at the Department of Environmental Quality through Grant #NAO9NOS4190163 of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Projected Growth• Northern Virginia has been
growing by about 35-38,000 people per year, on average, for more than 30 years
• By 2020, our population will reach 2.5 million
• Population growth is equivalent to adding a new county every eight years, with a population equivalent to the number living in Loudoun today—about 300,000
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
What Can We Expect?
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Conservation Corridor Planningin Northern Virginia
– Refine state analyses using local data and priorities.– Identify & map high value cores and corridors across
the region.– Highlight opportunities for regional connections.– Quantify benefits of these areas.– Develop specific themed overlay maps to highlight
relationship of green infrastructure and uses– Develop model language for incorporation of GI/CC
into local planning efforts.– Develop communication products and strategy for
promoting conservation opportunities to elected officials and the public.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Green Infrastructure Principles
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Infrastructure (n): the substructure or underlying foundation…on which the continuance and growth of a community or state depends.
Infrastructure: What’s in a name?
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
A planimetric map of a Washington DC shows a neighborhood’s gray infrastructure including buildings and roads (left). Classified high-resolution satellite imagery adds a green infrastructure data layer (trees and other vegetation) (right). Source: American Forests
What is Green Infrastructure?
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Green Infrastructure Principles
“An interconnected network of a wide range of landscape elements that
support native species,
maintain natural ecological processes,
sustain air and water resources, and
contribute to the health and quality of life for communities and people.”
Source: Green Infrastructure: Linking Landscapes and Communities, Benedict and McMahon (2006)
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Green Infrastructure NetworkA green infrastructure network is made up of connected core habitats and connecting corridors that help animals, seeds, and people move across the landscape.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Larger patches = large benefits
more interior species, larger populations, more habitat types
Smaller patches = supplemental benefits
act as stepping stones for species movement
Image source: Dramstad, Wenche E., et al. Landscape Ecology Principles in Landscape Architecture and Land Use Planning. Washington D.C., Island Press, 1996.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Who prefers interior forest cores?
Birds, e.g. cerulean warbler, Scarlet tanager
Mammals, e.g. black bear, bobcat, n. flying squirrel
Amphibians, e.g. spotted salamander
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Which forests “intact” now and future?
Small parcels fragment forest into many owners
Large parcels create contiguous forest blocks
We use local parcel data to determine current and future intactness.
Timber Asset = Contiguous Large Forested Parcels (>20 acres). A wildlife asset = > 100 acres
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
• Combating global warming (carbon sequestration) and improving air quality.
• Protects and preserves water quality and supply.
• Provides stormwater management, hazard mitigation.
• Preserves biodiversity and wildlife habitat.
• Improves quality of life and fitness by access to recreation.
Benefits of Conserving Green Infrastructure
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Where to develop?
SmartGrowth =
UsingExisting (grey) Infrastructure
But is this enough?
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Typical Plan =
Save ½Build ½
While this approach is simple, it does not conserve our best resources.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Need to consider:
What are allthe assets?
Grey + Green =
Smart + Green
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Here’s the problem when cluster developments don’t look outside the parcel:
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Green infrastructure approachhelps keep corridors intact.
Undeveloped parcel: PDR, TDR, Easement?
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Virginia’s Comprehensive Planning§ 15.2-2230. Comp Plans reviewed at least once every 5 years.
“…careful and comprehensive surveys and studies of the existing conditions and trends of growth, and of the probable future requirements of its territory and inhabitants.” “…guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development …which will, in accordance with present and probable future needs and resources, promote the health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity and general welfare of the inhabitants…
Zoning must be “in accordance” with comprehensive plans – so comp plans should include maps of key
natural assets.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
1) Asset Mapping (what are the existing ecological, cultural and economic assets)
2) Risk Assessment (which of the assets above are at risk)
3) Opportunities (what kind of community do we want? what projects, programs, policies to ensure assets conserved?)
4) Policy Implementation (adoption of asset maps, strategy maps, integrate into comprehensive plans, park plans etc.)
GI Planning Steps
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Park and open space planning
Identify lands for PDR or TDR programs
New ordinance development
Species protection
Heritage tourism and viewsheds
Ag and Forestal Districts
Transportation planning: roads/trails
Green Infrastructure Planning Applications
Public
Private
Regulatory Voluntary
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
In Summary, Green Infrastructure Planning …
Helps localities make better decisions about where, when and how to grow.
Strengthens and integrates existing planning efforts.
Provides an inventory of natural assets that are critical to healthy communities.
Protects valuable community resources and character.
Makes economic sense = smart green growth!
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
VA Natural Landscape Assessment – Forest Habitats
Cultural Model – Historic Resources Vulnerability Model -- -Growth predictions and threats
Forest Economics Model – Economically viable forests
Agricultural Model – Lands suitable for farming
Recreation Model – Trails, Parks, Hunting and Fishing
Watershed Integrity Model
Ecological Integrity
Priority Conservation Assessment (multiple species)
For general information: www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/vclnagrn.shtml
For simple maps: http://www.vaconservedlands.org/gis.aspx
New Virginia Modeling Tools
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
VaNLA
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
PCA
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
High Priority Conservation Areas+
Connected, Good Quality Landscapes+
Contributing Landscapes
Base Green Infrastructure Network
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Developing a Northern Virginia Base MapData Sources
Virginia Department of Forestry – Land Cover & Forest Cover
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation –VaNLA, Conserved Lands
USGS – National Hydrology Dataset FWS – National Wetland Inventory Local GIS Managers – CBPA, streams, parks, etc.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURELayer Source
Base Green Infrastructure Network
High Value Cores NVRC
Natural Land Network DCR-DNH
Contributing Landscapes DCR-DNH
Tree Canopy VDOF
Land CoverRural LandsUrban Developed Lands
VDOF (2005)
Major Rivers USGS - NHD
Lakes/Ponds USGS - NHD
Streams USGS - NHD
Neighbors
Stafford County Cores GWRC
DC NVRC
Maryland GreenPrint MD DNR
State Forest Cover VDOF
Northern Virginia Region Boundary NVRC
Roads VDOT
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
High value resources currently unprotected?
Opportunities to expand buffer along conserved lands?
DRAFT
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
An example of a cross-countyopportunity
DRAFT
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE845 acres
206.2 acres of Tier 1 Habitat
DoI = 300 acres
4 Elements of Occurrence
LoudounCounty
FairfaxCounty
% Tree Canopy 87.4 percent(738.8 acres)
Lbs of Air Pollutants removed 74,416($199,246)
Tons of Carbon StoredTons of Carbon Sequestered
31,790247
Cu. Ft of Stormwater Retained (estimated)
4,832,337 cu. ft($28,994,024)
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
What is a theme?Essentially a theme refers to the a type of information that we want to overlay on the base map to see new relationships. Any land use issue could be come a theme.
The purpose is to highlight new relationships.
To use for planning and prioritizing conservation.
Could also be used to look for conflicts or challenges.
Themes determined for this project include, agriculture, nature based recreation, heritage and water resources.
Wildlife and forest habitats are included within the base map.Following are some examples from other projects…
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
New Kent County 2007
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Watershed Protection: Riparian Corridors
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Accomack County: Priority habitat and wildlife conservation areas.Protected or least likely to change (purple) and areas needing special attention for conservation (green).
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Accomack County: fishery and recreation economy
Components include:Water accessWatershedsSAVOyster, clam bedsFishery mgmt. areas
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Accomack Storm Surge Zones
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Green Assets: Water
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Green Assets: Water - Challenges
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Green Assets: Water - Recommendations•Protect forested land adjacent to headwaters
•Increase forest cover adjacent to proposed reservoir by 200%.
•Restrict steep slope development.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Green Assets: Water - Recommendations•Protect riparian buffer along wildlife corridor waterways.
•Concentrate stream bank restoration along impaired waterways lacking forest cover.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Green Assets: Water - Recommendations•Require developers to mitigate tree removals.
•Restore or conserve the riparian buffer in urban areas.
•Require LID for all development + redevelopment.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
EndNorthern Virginia Regional
Commissionwww.novaregion.org/
Green Infrastructure Center www.gicinc.org