Conservation Corridor Planning and Green Infrastructure Themes

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1 Conservation Corridor Planning and Green Infrastructure Themes Prepared by the Green Infrastructure Center Inc. and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission February 22, 2011

2 Brief Overview Project Background Green Infrastructure Principles and Planning Base Map Theme overlays examples of heritage and nature based recreation

3 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 #NAO9NOS of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended.

4 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

5 What Can We Expect? GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

6 Conservation Corridor Planning in Northern Virginia GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 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.

7 Green Infrastructure Principles

8 Infrastructure: What s in a name? Infrastructure (n): the substructure or underlying foundation on which the continuance and growth of a community or state depends.

9 What is 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

10 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)

11 Green Infrastructure Network GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE A green infrastructure network is made up of connected core habitats and connecting corridors that help animals, seeds, and people move across the landscape.

12 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.

13 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

14 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

15 Benefits of Conserving 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. GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

16 Where to develop? Smart Growth = Using Existing (grey) Infrastructure But is this enough?

17 Typical Plan = Save ½ Build ½ While this approach is simple, it does not conserve our best resources.

18 Need to consider: What are all the assets? Grey + Green = Smart + Green

19 Here s the problem when cluster developments don t look outside the parcel: GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

20 Green infrastructure approach helps keep corridors intact. Undeveloped parcel: PDR, TDR, Easement?

21 Virginia s Comprehensive Planning 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.

22 GI Planning Steps 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.)

23 Green Infrastructure Planning Applications 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 Public Regulatory Private Voluntary

24 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!

25 New Virginia Modeling Tools 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) GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE For general information: For simple maps:

26 VaNLA GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

27 PCA GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

28 High Priority Conservation Areas + Connected, Good Quality Landscapes + Contributing Landscapes Base Green Infrastructure Network

29 Developing a Northern Virginia Base Map Data 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.

30 Layer Source GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE Base Green Infrastructure Network High Value Cores Natural Land Network Contributing Landscapes Tree Canopy Land Cover Rural Lands Urban Developed Lands Major Rivers Lakes/Ponds Streams NVRC DCR-DNH DCR-DNH VDOF VDOF (2005) USGS - NHD USGS - NHD USGS - NHD Neighbors Stafford County Cores DC Maryland GreenPrint State Forest Cover Northern Virginia Region Boundary Roads GWRC NVRC MD DNR VDOF NVRC VDOT

31 High value resources currently unprotected? Opportunities to expand buffer along conserved lands? DRAFT

32 An example of a cross-county opportunity DRAFT

33 845 acres acres of Tier 1 Habitat DoI = 300 acres 4 Elements of Occurrence Loudoun County GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE Fairfax County % Tree Canopy Lbs of Air Pollutants removed Tons of Carbon Stored Tons of Carbon Sequestered Cu. Ft of Stormwater Retained (estimated) 87.4 percent (738.8 acres) 74,416 ($199,246) 31, ,832,337 cu. ft ($28,994,024)

34 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

35 New Kent County 2007

36 Watershed Protection: Riparian Corridors GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

37 Accomack County: Priority habitat and wildlife conservation areas. Protected or least likely to change (purple) and areas needing special attention for conservation (green).

38 Accomack County: fishery and recreation economy Components include: Water access Watersheds SAV Oyster, clam beds Fishery mgmt. areas

39 Accomack Storm Surge Zones GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

40 Green Assets: Water GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

41 Green Assets: Water - Challenges GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

42 Green Assets: Water - Recommendations Protect forested land adjacent to headwaters Increase forest cover adjacent to proposed reservoir by 200%. Restrict steep slope development.

43 Green Assets: Water - Recommendations Protect riparian buffer along wildlife corridor waterways. Concentrate stream bank restoration along impaired waterways lacking forest cover.

44 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.

45 End Northern Virginia Regional Commission Green Infrastructure Center