Intentional Wetland Restoration in an Airfield’s Clearzone at JB Andrews 11 March 2015 Presented to: Presented by: Daniel M. Savercool, CSE

Intentional Wetland Restoration in an Airfield’s Clearzone at JB Andrews

Intentional Wetland Restoration in an Airfield’s Clearzone at JB Andrews

11 March 2015

Presented to:Presented to:Presented to:Presented to:

Presented by:Presented by:Presented by:Presented by:

Daniel M. Savercool, CSE

Site LocationSite Location2

Jurisdictional WetlandsJurisdictional Wetlands 3

Jurisdictional Wetlands (con’t.)Jurisdictional Wetlands (con’t.) 4

Regulatory DriversRegulatory Drivers

● Clean Water Act, § 404Clean Water Act, § 404 2.82 acres direct and 1.56 acres buffer; 804 l.f. stream 2.82 acres direct and 1.56 acres buffer; 804 l.f. stream

impactsimpacts● CERCLA (42 U.S.C. 103)CERCLA (42 U.S.C. 103)

CWA §404 is an applicable or relevant and appropriate CWA §404 is an applicable or relevant and appropriate requirement. Therefore, avoidance, minimization, and requirement. Therefore, avoidance, minimization, and compensatory mitigation are required. But, a CWA §404 compensatory mitigation are required. But, a CWA §404 permit is not.permit is not.

● AFI 32-7020 The Environmental Restoration ProgramAFI 32-7020 The Environmental Restoration Program Under 42 USC § 9621(e)(1) and 40 CFR 300.400(e), the portion Under 42 USC § 9621(e)(1) and 40 CFR 300.400(e), the portion

of any CERCLA response actions that are conducted entirely of any CERCLA response actions that are conducted entirely on-site is exempt from requirements to obtain Federal, state, on-site is exempt from requirements to obtain Federal, state, and local permits.and local permits.

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Mitigation OptionsMitigation Options

● Mitigation BankMitigation Bank● In LieuIn Lieu Fee Program Fee Program● On-site (restoration, enhancement, creation, or On-site (restoration, enhancement, creation, or

preservation)preservation)

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● Mitigation BankMitigation Bank None of the existing Mitigation Banks (MB) whose None of the existing Mitigation Banks (MB) whose

Service Areas included JB Andrews had sufficient Service Areas included JB Andrews had sufficient available credits or the available credits were for the available credits or the available credits were for the wrong type of wetland.wrong type of wetland.

The AF was developing a MB nearby. But, the The AF was developing a MB nearby. But, the release of credits for that was at least two years’ release of credits for that was at least two years’ away.away.

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● In Lieu In Lieu Fee ProgramFee Program There was only one There was only one In LieuIn Lieu Fee Program, which was Fee Program, which was

administered by Maryland Department of the administered by Maryland Department of the Environment.Environment.

It was forced to expire by USACE on 19 June 2013 It was forced to expire by USACE on 19 June 2013 as it did not comply with the 2008 Compensatory as it did not comply with the 2008 Compensatory Mitigation Requirements.Mitigation Requirements.

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● On-site (but distant from the impact area)On-site (but distant from the impact area) Review of the JB Andrews INRMP (2012) identified Review of the JB Andrews INRMP (2012) identified

several sites far away from the flightline, adjacent to several sites far away from the flightline, adjacent to an existing wetland and identified for habitat an existing wetland and identified for habitat management or restoration.management or restoration.

But, the installation did not want to create additional But, the installation did not want to create additional wetlands.wetlands.

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● On-site (in the area of the impact)On-site (in the area of the impact) Intentionally placing wetlands in an active runway Intentionally placing wetlands in an active runway

clearzone …clearzone …

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● On-site (in the area of the impact)On-site (in the area of the impact) Intentionally placing wetlands in an active runway Intentionally placing wetlands in an active runway

clearzone … at the end of the main runway used by clearzone … at the end of the main runway used by Air Force One.Air Force One.

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Mitigation RequirementsMitigation Requirements

● Meets the “spirit of the regulation”Meets the “spirit of the regulation” In-kindIn-kind

• Include scrub-shrub and emergent marsh habitats Habitat valueHabitat value

• Could not be attractive to BASH species (limited seed production and limited refugia)

Meets the regulatory definition of a wetlandMeets the regulatory definition of a wetland• Hydric vegetation (FAC, FACW, or OBL) and evidence of

hydrology● Can withstand repeated mowingCan withstand repeated mowing

Take advantage of robust plant species that reach maturity Take advantage of robust plant species that reach maturity (seed production) at heights above the mowing height.(seed production) at heights above the mowing height.

● Native species that are commercially availableNative species that are commercially available

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Mitigation DesignMitigation Design 13

Preferred Mitigation VegetationPreferred Mitigation Vegetation 14

Currently in Wetland orProposed for Planting Habit Common Name Scientific Name

Native Status (N/I)

Wetland Indicator Status Wildlife Value (include discussion)

Existing tree red maple Acer rubrum N FAC cover, roosting, browse, and limited seed production (geese)Existing tree river birch Betula nigra N FACW cover, roosting, browse, and profuse seed production (geese and turkey)Existing tree American holly Ilex opaca N FACU+ lowExisting tree sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua N FAC cover, roosting, browse, and limited seed production (songbirds)Existing shrub dwarf St. Johns wort Hypericum mutilum N FACW lowExisting shrub winterberry Ilex verticillata N FACW- cover and roosting (songbirds)Existing shrub Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica I FAC lowExisting shrub seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia N FACW+ lowExisting shrub highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum N FACW- cover, roosting, browse, and profuse fruit production (songbirds)Existing herb creeping bentgrass Agrostis stolonifera I FACW profuse seed production (songbirds)Existing herb strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus N FACW profuse seed production (songbirds)Existing herb deertongue Dichantelium clandestinum N FAC+ profuse seed production (songbirds) and forage (deer)Existing herb barnyardgrass Echinochloa crus-galli I FACU high, profuse seed production (songbirds) and forage (geese)Existing herb blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa N OBL lowExisting herb Canadian rush Juncus canadensis N OBL low, limited seed production (songbirds)Existing herb common rush Juncus effusus N FACW low, limited seed production (songbirds), reach 36" before seeds are producedExisting herb common cattail Typha latifolia N OBL cover, roosting, forage (geese), and profuse seed production (songbirds)

Proposed herb fringed sedge Carex crinita N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 5' at maturity, moderate palatabilityProposed herb bladder sedge Carex intumescens N FACW+ low, limited seed production, reach 3' at maturity, low palatabilityProposed herb shallow sedge Carex lurida N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 3' at maturity, moderate palatabilityProposed herb upright sedge Carex stricta N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 4' at maturity, moderate palatabilityProposed herb fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 3' at maturity, moderate palatabilityProposed herb chufa Cyperus esculentus N FACW low, limited seed production, reach 0.7' at maturity, low palatabilityProposed herb three-way sedge Dulichium aruninaceum N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 2.6' at maturity, low palatabilityProposed herb hard fescue Festuca brevipila I NO low, high endophyteProposed herb sheep fescue Festuca ovina I NO low, high endophyteProposed herb Chewing's fescue Festuca rubra ssp. fallax I FACU low, high endophyteProposed herb creeping red fescue Festuca rubra ssp. rubra N FACU low, high endophyteProposed herb Canada manna grass Glyceria canadensis N OBL medium, limited seed production, reach 3' at maturity, high palatabilityProposed herb fowl manna grass Glyceria striata N OBL medium, limited seed production, reach 5' at maturity, high palatabilityProposed shrub giant St. Johns wort Hypericum ascyron N FAC lowProposed herb blueflag iris Iris versicolor N OBL low, stone not profuse, forage (geese)Proposed herb rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides N OBL medium, limited seed production, reach 4' before seeds produced, high palatabilityProposed herb cardinal flower Lobelia cardinalis N FACW+ lowProposed herb perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne I FACU- low, high endophyteProposed herb Italian ryegrass Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum I FACU- low, high endophyteProposed herb reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea N FACW+ low, limited seed production, reach 5' before seeds produced, low palatabilityProposed herb tall fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus I FACU low, high endophyteProposed herb river bulrush Schoenoplectus fluviatilis N OBL forage (geese), reach 28"-79" before seeds are producedProposed herb soft-stem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani N OBL low, limited seed production, reach 9' at maturity, low palatabilityProposed herb common threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens N FACW+ forage (geese), reach 60" before seeds are producedProposed herb green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens N OBL low, cover, reach 60" before seeds are producedProposed herb wool grass Scirpus cyperinus N FACW+ medium, limited seed production, reach 4' at maturity, moderate palatabilityProposed herb prairie cordgrass Spartina pectinata N FACW+ low, limited seed production, reach 8' at maturity, moderate palatability

USDA-WS Preferred VegetationUSDA-WS Preferred Vegetation 15


Native Status (N/I)




Final Mitigation VegetationFinal Mitigation Vegetation 16


Native Status (N/I)




Pre-impact WetlandPre-impact Wetland 17

Wetland Mitigation ConstructionWetland Mitigation Construction 18

Wetland Mitigation Post-plantingWetland Mitigation Post-planting 19

Mitigation Monitoring – Time ZeroMitigation Monitoring – Time Zero 20

Questions?Questions? 21

Documents

Intentional Wetland Restoration in an Airfield’s Clearzone at JB Andrews 11 March 2015 Presented to: Presented by: Daniel M. Savercool, CSE