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TRANSCRIPT
Chesapeake's Future Forests:
Crafting a Forest Restoration Strategy for the Bay Watershed
All Teams Webinar, Jan. 30, 2012 888-858-2144, Access 6802405
** Please mute your line when not speaking (*6)
Agenda for Today Strategy Overview/Update
Review Strategy Content Outline – input throughout
Introduction
Wildlife Habitat
Mine Lands
Agroforestry
Urban/Community
Brownfields
Conclusion/Summary (Integration)
Questions/Discussion
Wrap up/Next steps
Goal: Recover Habitat
“By 2012, USDA will work with Dept. of Interior and other entities to develop a Chesapeake Bay watershed strategy to maximize forest restoration in priority areas… ”
Priority areas = Urban, green infrastructure, wildlife habitat, mine lands, brownfields, agroforestry
Forest Restoration Strategy
Process Timeline
May 2011 - Webinar with 65 federal, state, local and ngo
participants to kick off Strategy development
June-Dec 2011 - Strategy Teams form and hold calls to
develop section content and outlines
Jan 2012 – All teams webinar –input on Strategy outline
Mar 2012 – Complete draft Strategy and distribute for input
May 2012 – Complete final Strategy
Strategy Teams – Thank you!
GIS/Green Infrastructure
(Tim Culbreth, MD DNR; Bill Jenkins & Matt Nicholson, EPA)
Wildlife (Sandie Doran, USFWS)
Mine Lands (Scott Eggerud, OSMRE)
Agroforestry (Tom Ward, NRCS)
Brownfields (Bruce Pluta, EPA)
Urban/Community
General Outline of Strategy Sections
Aim for 3-5 page concise summary that covers:
Why is this a priority for forest restoration?
Where are these areas on the landscape?
How – what programs and tools are available to help?
What actions are needed to promote forest restoration in
these areas? (will help guide Forestry Workgroup and partner
priorities)
Strategy –
Introduction Section
Value of forests for the Bay -
air, water, habitat, etc
Loss of forest cover - need to
conserve AND restore
Past progress – riparian buffer
restoration and urban tree
canopy programs; expand on
these efforts through Strategy
Strategy - Introduction Section…con’t
TARGETING : Green Infrastructure basis– where’s the
restoration need greatest? Overlapping geographic priorities and
opportunities/partnerships watershed-wide
E.g., target restoration on conserved lands wherever possible
Outline/overview of strategy sections
Respond to new drivers and opportunities (TMDL, EO
goals)
New ideas/considerations on getting more trees in the right
places**
Other thoughts…?
** Refer readers to Appendix resources on challenges and best practices in establishing trees –
e.g., deer browse, compaction, invasives, etc.)
Strategy - Introduction Section
Partnership Strategy – not agency-specific; start with our organizations and appeal to the broader network of groups that can implement forest restoration
Set stage for integration of priority planting areas, and multiple benefits of restoration to environment/society
Name Organization
* Sandie Doran USFWS NY – ** Team Leader
Anne Hairston-Strang MD DNR Forest Service
Jennifer Greiner USFWS Chesapeake Bay
Kevin Anderson Trout Unlimited
Mike Slattey USFWS Chesapeake Bay
Nat Gillespie USFS Fisheries/Brook trout
Mark Hudy USFS Fisheries/Brook trout
Michael Schwartz Conservation Fund
Rich Mason USFWS MD, DE
Rick McCorkle USFWS Delaware Bay
David Norris VA Dept Game/Inland Fisheries
Douglas Gross PA Game Commission
Scott Bearer The Nature Conservancy, PA
Todd Fearer Appalachian Mtn Joint Venture
Andy Lowell USFWS NY
Noelle Rayman USFWS NY
Rebecca Moore NYSDEC
Name Organization
Bill Jenkins EPA R3 /Green Infrastructure
Christine Mazzarella EPA R3/Green Infrastructure
Jason Bulluck VA Natural Heritage
Joe Weber VA Natural Heritage
Karen Engel NYSDEC
Mark Biddle DE DNREC Watershed
Matt Nicholson EPA R3 /Green Infrastructure
Peter Claggett USGS Bay Program
Tim Culbreth MD DNR Forest Service
Wildlife Team
Green Infrastructure/ GIS Analysis
WILDLIFE HABITAT - WHY
Loss and fragmentation of forest habitat for host of species
Amount of forest cover important, but so is forest type, age,
and connectivity
Importance of large forest blocks (hubs) for interior
dependent species (eg cerulean warbler) and forested
corridors connecting patches
Forested riparian habitat is critical (target of 70% of
riparian areas in forest), especially for aquatic species like
brook trout
Noted Declines in Forest Songbirds Cerulean warbler Wood thrush
WILDLIFE HABITAT - WHERE
Target restoration to
expand network of forest
hubs and corridors
Priority on restoring
forest cover in riparian
corridors
VA, MD and DE have complete, prioritized Green
Infrastructure assessments; other states in process,
used EPA/Jim Wickham’s hub-corridor layer
WILDLIFE HABITAT - WHERE
Brook Trout
Severely reduced across
east; an important
indicator species
Executive Order
outcome to bring back
this species
Riparian forests greatly
improve habitat
Brook Trout Distribution: Catchments
An updated map has finer scale
analysis of important brook
trout habitat to restore (M.
Hudy USFS, coming soon)
Brook trout in 11 % of Catchments
WILDLIFE HABITAT - HOW
Cost-share programs – USDA CREP, EQIP, WHIP, WRP,
USFWS Partners program; state incentive programs
Need for more effective marketing and targeted landowner
outreach/technical assistance in priority areas
Importance of partnerships with Fish and Wildlife agencies,
NRCS, forestry, watershed organizations, etc.
Tools available: LandServer website, brook trout
assessment/partnerships, buffer targeting tools
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: TBD
CASE STUDY - SIDEBAR
Trout Unlimited has formed partnerships in West Virginia for the restoration of Eastern brook trout
habitat with NRCS, USFWS, USFS, FSA, NFWF, and WV DNR and other non-profits like The Mountain Institute
and the Freshwater Institute.
Partnership has successfully targeted and approached landowners, and provided technical and financial
assistance needed to establish riparian forests and other conservation practices beneficial to brookies.
Successful Strategy:
Use brook trout to engage landowners, schools, etc
Use best science, local knowledge, planning tools
Use experienced staff, comprehensive planning and monitoring
Provide education, land conservation referrals…leads to more conservation work
Results:
13 miles of new riparian forest
600 acres of land protected
Mine Lands Team
Name Organization
Chris Yeakle DEP Mining
Dave Hamilton OSM Pennsylvania/ARRI
Derrick McDonald PA DEP Watersheds
Katy McCune American Chestnut Foundation (MD, WV, VA)
Kevin Quick WV DEP
Mark Carney MDE, Bureau of Mines
Sara Fern Fitzsimmons American Chestnut Foundation (PA)
Scott Eggerud OSM-ARRI
Tim Culbreth MD Forest Service
Tina Alban PA Bureau of Forestry
Todd Fearer Appalachian Mountain Joint Venture
Tracey Coulter PA Bureau of Forestry
MINE LANDS - WHY
Coal mine lands exist in high value Appalachian forest habitat, headwaters of Chesapeake Bay – great restoration potential for water quality, habitat
Post SMCRA reclamation has been predominantly grass, with high soil compaction and limited regeneration of trees
Opportunities for reforestation on different types of sites: Abandoned Mine Lands, historic permitted/post SMCRA, active mining sites
Economic/community benefits for impacted communities (green jobs)
Note: Not recommending reforestation of ALL mine lands – some provide important grassland habitat, or ag production
MINE LANDS
Overlaps with
priority Cerulean
Warbler, Golden-
winged Warbler
habitat
Some areas needed by
grassland birds
Counties with >1000 acres Non-forested Mine Lands * Draft data – please do not cite
State County
Count of
Mines
Acres of
Mines Forested Acres of Mines
Non-forested
Mine Land
% Non-forested
Mine Land
PA SCHUYLKILL 785 43413.05 6774.91 36638.14 84.39%
PA CLEARFIELD 2369 25680.42 12538.96 13141.46 51.17%
MD Garrett 127 9422.13 3346.85 6075.28 64.48%
WVA Grant 134 8532.7 4365.25 4167.45 48.84%
MD Allegany 108 7381.29 3239.01 4142.28 56.12%
PA CENTRE 379 6194.81 3048.13 3146.68 50.80%
WVA Jefferson 10 2315.85 434.42 1881.43 81.24%
PA LACKAWANNA 450 3233.47 1764.46 1469.01 45.43%
PA LUZERNE 590 3298.86 1920.2 1378.66 41.79%
PA ELK 154 2571.7 1349.95 1221.75 47.51%
PA CAMBRIA 275 2723.36 1619.31 1104.05 40.54%
PA DAUPHIN 27 2165.92 1104.72 1061.2 49.00%
WVA Mineral 41 2153.41 1145.39 1008.02 46.81%
MINE LANDS - HOW
Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) –
provides strong science, technical guidance, and partnership
strategies for reforesting mine lands
Possible Funding Sources –
Fed/state cost share (EQIP, WHIP, etc)
EPA Brownfields, 319 grants, Abandoned Mine Lands programs
Private – foundations, utility companies seeking carbon credits
Critical role of watershed/community groups to identify
reforestation sites, seek grants, and plant trees (e.g. OSM
Vista Appalachian Coal Country Teams)
CASE STUDY American Chestnut Foundation will establish 12 reforestation plantings of mixed hardwood/American chestnut forest on reclaimed mine lands Each planting will be ~30 acres and composed of high-value hardwoods including chestnuts at a density of 20/acre The plantings will include a fenced-in 1 acre planting of 15/16 blight resistant American chestnuts (Restoration Chestnuts) Will use ARRI guidance for locating, ripping, herbicide application as needed
Currently looking for EQIP-eligible sites because some of the funding comes from a CIG grant
MINE LANDS
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
Host regional workshop on mine land reforestation for
agency staff and watershed groups
Conduct finer-scale GIS targeting in pilot counties to find
potential sites and target outreach to landowners
Assess state mining reclamation standards; identify
opportunities to encourage more reforestation on active
mine sites
Others…?
Agroforestry Team
Name Organization
Tom Ward (team lead) NRCS Eastern Training Center
Barbara McWhorter WV NRCS
Barry Isaacs NRCS PA
Brett Chedzoy Cornell University
Bruce Wight NRCS National Forester
Charlie Becker VA Dept. of Forestry
Dan Dostie NRCS PA
Dan Rider MD Forest Service
John Munsell Virginia Tech University
Katrina Krause US Forest Service (R&D)
Mike Jacobsen Penn State University
Roy Brubaker PA Bureau of Forestry
Tracey Coulter PA Bureau of Forestry
AGROFORESTRY - WHY?
Lots of agriculture in the Bay – strategic use of trees/forestry on
these lands has environmental benefit and economic returns too
Benefits of trees – water quality, habitat, mitigating air pollutants;
high credit towards TMDL/Watershed Implementation Plan - load
reduction rates
Executive Order Outcome for Brook Trout --riparian forest
restoration on ag lands are critical to species survival
Economic benefits of trees – diversified income, herd
health/productivity, new woody crops for food/fiber/biomass
AGROFORESTRY - WHAT IS IT?
**Integrative land use systems and practices in
which woody perennials are deliberately integrated
with crops and/or animals.
TYPES Riparian Forest Buffers
Windbreaks/Shelterbelts
Alley Cropping
Silvopasture
Forest Farming
AGROFORESTRY Riparian Forest Buffers –
Best for reducing N, P sediment loads from cropland and pasture – TMDL credit
Provide critical shading for aquatic habitat, incl brook trout
Good incentive payments available through CREP and other fed/state programs – link w fencing/watering systems to improve herd health
Targeting outreach /tech asst in nrcs priority watersheds
AGROFORESTRY Windbreaks
Trees, shrubs, grasses managed to shield from wind, snow, or, from outside (bad air, visuals)
Windbreaks capture airborne pollutants from farm
Eg ―Vegetative Environmental Buffers‖– used around poultry houses
Concentrations of Broiler Chickens
(Ag Census)
AGROFORESTRY
Silvopasture--
Bringing tree benefits onto
pasture land
Can reduce cost and
increase viability of grass-
based livestock
Steep slopes
Pasture
AGROFORESTRY
Alley Cropping ---interspersed rows of woody species with
more traditional, companion ag crop for shelter, reduced
need for nutrients, etc.
Forest Farming—cultivation of edible, floral, and craft crops
that grow underneath forest canopy. E.g., ginseng, golden
seal and other medicinals, native plant nursery for shade-
loving spp.
Catawba Sustainability Center POSSIBLE CASE STUDY
• 377 acres of an old dairy farm in the Catawba
Valley, VA: “showcase for university education and engagement with the local community - a place to practice, demonstrate, learn, and teach about sustainability issues”
• A part of this will be the new partnership between Catawba Sustainability Center and USDA National Agroforestry Center (focus: produce, florals, medicinals)
•Associations with: Va Tech, Catawba Valley Farmers Market and Locavore Directory
• A forest buffer was established in 2009
AGROFORESTRY Recommended Actions
A Bay branding campaign for
forest/wood/agroforestry products similar to the
Edible Chesapeake
Demonstrations of Agroforestry practices –find early
adopters with working farms/forests. Multi-state ag
and forestry technical service provider training
sessions on this and landscape planning
Train the trainer workshops targeting resource
professionals
Others…?
Team Member Organization Team Member Organization
Anne Cumming USFS Morgantown Jessica Strother Fairfax County, VA
Barbara White VA Dept. of Forestry Karen Cappiella Center for Watershed Protection
Chris Peiffer PA Bureau of Forestry Kyle Hoyd DE Forest Service
Don Outen Baltimore County Marcia Fox DE Forest Service
Ellen Roane PA Bureau of Forestry Marian Honeczy MD Forest Service
Frank Rodgers Cacapon Institute Monica Lear DC DOT Urban Forestry Administration
Gary Allen Center for Sustainable Communities Morgan Grove
USFS Research (Baltimore)
Herb Peddicord WV Div. of Forestry Rebecca Moore NY Div Lands and Forests
Hieu Truong Chesapeake Bay Trust Steve Saari DC Dept of Environment
Jen Bruhler DE Center for Horticulture Tanner Haid Cacapon Institute
Jim Woodworth Casey Trees Vincent Cotrone Penn State Extension
Urban/Community Team
URBAN AND COMMUNITY - WHY
Maximize tree benefits where people are concentrated
Reduce pollution and flooding from stormwater
Mitigate air quality problems and related public health concerns
Shade reduces urban heat island effect and energy costs
Improve aesthetics, recreation, property values, etc.
Trees are most cost-effective means to meet multiple
community goals and regulations (MS4, TMDL, etc)
Urban Tree Canopy Assessments
57 cities and 7 counties have
completed assessments
More in process
25 cities/counties have set draft
or final UTC % goals
Air Quality – Non-Attainment Areas, 8 Hour Ozone
WHERE
Urban Tree Canopy Status & Goals
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%Current
Goal
URBAN AND COMMUNITY - HOW
UTC assessment/goal setting/implementation process (can
be simple or complex)
Local measures to maintain/preserve existing canopy and to
expand canopy through well-designed tree planting programs
Tie to MS4/TMDL/Air SIP and local goals
Importance of local partnerships and volunteer groups to
plant and maintain trees
Tools/programs available to help: examples federal (iTree),
state programs (PA Treevitalize), ngo (CB Trust), refer to list
of program resources
•County offers tree planting on large lots in exchange for
landowner commitment
CASE STUDY - SIDEBAR
URBAN AND COMMUNITY
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
Provide training and technical assistance to local govts to set
tree planting targets and track progress for TMDL/WIP
Develop and expand on state and ngo programs that support
community tree planting initiatives
Transfer successful turf-to-trees program models and lessons
learned to more communities in the Bay (w/ high turf grass)
Other actions for fed/state/local?
Brownfields Team
Name Organization
Bruce Pluta EPA R3 Biological Tech Asst Group
Chuck Nace EPA R2 Ecological Risk Assessor
Donna Murphy USFS (Morgantown)
Eddie Durant DOD/DON Chesapeake Bay Program
Jeff Barnett EPA R3 MD Brownfields Coordinator
Karen Engel NYSDEC – Green Infrastructure Coordinator
Kathy Patnode USFWS (PA Field Office)
Matt Nicholson EPA R3 Green Infrastructure
Phillip Rodbell US Forest Service (Newtown Square)
Rebecca Hanmer Forestry Workgroup Chair (EPA Retired)
Sherry Krest USFWS (Chesapeake Bay Field Office)
BROWNFIELDS - WHY
Range of contaminated sites that can benefit from trees -
Superfund, RCRA, Brownfields, etc.
Often in urban areas – air/stormwater/community goals
Often along waterways, riparian restoration potential
Tree planting should be tailored to unique site considerations
and concerns related to toxics
BROWNFIELDS
WHERE
Every site can benefit
from tree planting
whether small parcels
or large scale
Will provide summary
data on sites by county,
proximity to waterbody
to aid targeting
BROWNFIELDS - HOW
Programs – EPA reuse/revitalization, Greener Clean-up
Goals, Trustee NRD efforts
Make technical guidance and tools available to support
reforestation of contaminated sites
Connect to urban tree canopy initiatives and green
infrastructure priorities
Educate/partner with key groups
(EPA-state and fed, consuting community, Wildlife Habitat
Council, DOD, Society for Ecological Restoration
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: TBD
Brownfields Case Study - TBD
Browns Battery Breaking Site
Conclusions/Summary
Still figuring this out…
Targeting overlapping priorities – COAST tool
Identify new and expanded sources of funding for restoration
Finding Overlapping Priorities:
USGS COAST Forest Mapper Tool
Questions/Discussion
What types of recommended actions will be most useful in the Strategy?
How can we engage the wider network of groups to learn about and participate in implementing the Strategy?
What level of ongoing coordination (calls, etc) is needed to further develop and implement actions?
Forest Restoration Strategy Next Steps
Feb –Mar
Last round of team calls
Team review input by email on draft Strategy text and graphics
Finish Draft Strategy by end of March – distribute for
review/comment
Finish Final Strategy in May