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Planning for the Present: GIS Based Asset Management and Preservation at the Norman Bird
Sanctuary
SNEAPA 2016 Worcester, Massachusetts
October 21, 2016
• Introduction (5 minutes)• The Cultural Landscape (5 minutes)
– Background– Methodology
• The Sanctuary (5 minutes)– Background– Methodology
• iPad/GIS Data Demonstration (25 minutes) • Q & A (5 minutes)• Outcome & Lessons Learned (20 minutes)
– Comprehensive Management Plan– Invasive Plant Species Management Plan (IPSMP)– Cultural Landscape Report (CLR)
• Q & A (10 minutes)
AGENDA
Introduction• 300 + Acres on
Aquidneck Island– Middletown, RI
• Includes 17 lots comprised of 4 distinct areas:
– Sanctuary– Campus– Third Beach Facilities– Green End Avenue
• Approximately 201 acres Bird and animal habitat which includes:– 12 parcels– 6 miles of trails– 22 distinct plant
communities– Various points of
interest throughout the property
Sanctuary
• Includes :– The public
entrance– Parking area– 15 buildings – Associated
structures, utilities, parking, walkways
– North and south fields and the designed landscape
Campus
• Accessible and Inclusive• Fidelity• Good Science and
Ecosystems Awareness• Integrity• Nature experiences• Sustainability• Tradition and history• Wise Stewardship
Values & Aspirations
• Creation of a suite of documents which includes– Cultural Landscape
Report– Land Management Plan– Invasive Plant Species
Management Plan
Where to start?
“These plans will provide a road map to responsibly maintain, preserve, protect, and share this enormous treasure in perpetuity.”
• Purpose:• Principal treatment document for landscapes which exhibit cultural value• Primary tool for long-term management of landscapes• Establishes preservation goals • Basis for sound decision making
• Components• History• Existing Conditions• Analysis +Evaluation• Treatment + Record of Treatment
Cultural Landscape Report
Site History
• National Register of Historic Places
• Property Ownership• Contributing
Structures• Uses• Contributing
Landscape Features• Milestones in History• Personal History of
Mabel Norman
Existing Conditions
• Comprehensive Base Plan• Circulation, Accessibility +
Paving• Programming +Events• Topography + Hydrology• Vegetation (Trees + Invasives)• Buildings + Structures• Views + Vistas• Constructed Water Features• Small Scale Features
(amenities + artifacts)• Signage• Lighting• Stone Walls + Fences• Off-Campus Sites +
Archeological Sites
Analysis + Evaluation• Critical for sorting and
integrating natural and cultural resource data so it can be used to develop appropriate treatment strategies
• Define significance and assess historic integrity using National Register criteria
• Assess historic integrity- the ability of the landscape to convey its significance
Scope• Phase 1: Natural Systems &
Drainage– Review Existing Data– Create Base Maps– Plant Community and Habitat– Invasive Species Management– Drainage Area and Site
Assessments• Phase 2: Property Boundary
and Buildings– Survey Research– Assess Buildings– NBS Facilities Master Plan
Property• Comprised of 300+
acres on17 Parcels:– 5 contiguous parcels
surrounding the Campus– 1 Town owned parcel– 3 disconnected parcels
east of the Campus– 12 parcels - 275 Acres
Assessed– No complete boundary
survey or boundary markers
Watersheds• Located within the
Maidford and Paradise Brook Watersheds – Both are impaired
water bodies with a Total Maximum Daily Load for bacteria (TMDL)
• Waterfowl, wildlife and domestic animal waste was indentified as a potential pollutant source
Plant Communities• 17 Parcels• 12 parcels - 275 Acres
Assessed
Plant Communities
• Trails– 6 Miles – 11 named trails
• Points of Interest– Cultural/Historic Sites– Geological Formations– Scenic Points– Ecosystems– Unique Trees
• Signage and Wayfinding
Site Amenities
1. Welcome Center/Admin.2. Barn3. Education Shed4. Garage5. Wood Shed6. Pump House7. Tool Shed8. Paradise Farmhouse9. Laundry Cottage10. Mabel’s Studio & Classroom11. Animal Room & workshop12. Aviary13. Hoop House14. Water Tower15. Third Beach Cabana16. Third Beach Education Center17. Peabody House
Buildings
• 20 Slides?
Demonstration
Using mobile GIS for asset management
Using GIS for Asset Management
• What did we use• Demo– Assessment- field data collection forms– Reporting/Analysis- printouts, mapping,
prioritizing– Tracking-implementation logs
• Issues and evolution
Using GIS for Asset Management
• Mobile data collection– Rapid– Efficient– Cool
• Devices (iPad)• Software (GISPro)• In-house GIS vs web-based
(ESRI vs Google Earth)
Topics
3. Tracking1. Assessment 2. Reporting & Analysis
Prep Work: Plan in Advance
1. What information do you want to collect?
2. Do you need GIS and who is GIS manager for your project?
3. Do data collection templates (DCTs) exist?
4. What’s the deliverable?
Turn on/off base layers
(shapefiles)
Turn on/off data collection templates (DCT) or
features
Edit existing DCTs/features or create
new ones
Add or edit attributes for each DCT or feature. If you edit on the fly, then
new attributes may not be automatically exported
If you want to add a point, line, polygon, etc…
Select appropriate “set” of DCTs or
existing shapefiles to use. Only Feature
Classes that are turned on will be options for use
You can DELETE features and EDIT
shapes
At any point you can see all your data entries
Reporting and Analysis
1. Export 1. GIS2. Google Earth3. Keep on ipad
2. Summary reports– Word templates– .DBF exports
3. Maps
Field Summaries
Tracking
• Add maintenance and implementation tracking forms
Questions?
Property• 17 Parcels• 12 parcels - 275 Acres
Assessed
• 17 Parcels• 12 parcels - 275 Acres
Assessed
Stormwater Opportunities
– Retrofit Opportunities
• Woodard & Curran
• Campus sites
– Public Outreach
• Training
• Demonstration rain gardens
Trails• Location/Condition
– Name– Avg. width– Surface type– Avg. condition (1-4)
• Repair Points– Description– Dimensions – Priority (H,M,L)
• Points of Interest (POI)• Trees
– Species– Size (DBH)– General Condition
Obstructions
Low points
Erosion
Plant Communities
• Size of area• Type (e.g., red maple
swamp)
• Dominant species• Habitat Quality (1-4)
• Wildlife Observations• Invasives
Plant Communities
Invasives
Privet
• Extent of area• Predominant Invasives• Other species• Density• Accessibility• Proposed management
approach
Autumn Olive
Phragmites
Invasive Species
Overlay
Plant Quality
• 17 Parcels• 12 parcels - 275 Acres
Assessed
Plant Communities
Invasives
• Prioritization & Ranking (100 pts)
– Surrounding Plant Community (40)
– Invasive Species Type (30)
– Level of Effort (27)
– Visibility/Outreach (3)
Implementation
Identifying Projects
• Projects• Welcome Center
Entrance + Universal Trail
• Mabel’s Garden + New England Native Woodland Walk
• Maintenance + Funding• URI Volunteers• Eco- Gardening
Identifying Projects
Built Projects
• Welcome Center Entrance + Universal Trail
• Rhode Island Native Plant + Wildlife Garden
• Mabel’s Garden + New England Native Woodland Walk
Welcome Center + Universal Trail
• Direct all visitors to sign-in at Welcome Center
• Safety + Accessibility• Education• Storm-water Management• Universal Trail funding
Rhode Island Native Plant + Wildlife Garden
• Educate and delight visitors• Provide habitat for
pollinators• Beautify the Welcome
center entrance
• Have a Champion (or two)
Outcomes & Lessons Learned
Mabel’s Garden + Woodland Walk
• What would Mabel do now?
Mabel’s Garden + Woodland Walk
• Maintain the remaining structure of Mabel’s Colonial Revival Garden.
• Maintain and enhance the garden for use as an event space.
• Provide a place for people to get to know the symbiotic relationships between plants, insects and birds.
Mabel’s Garden + Woodland Walk
Mabel’s Garden + Woodland Walk
• Sustainable management• Eco-gardening
Maintenance
• Overall management goals + strategies
• Cost estimates + Funding Opportunities
• Landscape Use + Ethnographic Value
• Design intent• Interpretation + Education• Maintenance + Sustainability• Health + Safety
“for the Propagation, Preservation, and Protection of birds, and where birds and bird life may be observed, studied, taught, and enjoyed by lovers of nature and by the public generally so interested in a spirit of humanity and mercy.”
Mabel Norman Cerio
Questions?
Thank You!Brian Kuchar, RLA, P.E.Sr. Landscape Architect/EngineerHorsley Witten Group, [email protected]
Anne KitchellSr. Watershed PlannerHorsley Witten Group, [email protected]
Tanya KelleyPrincipalPlace Studio Landscape Designtanyakelley.placestudio.net
