FHWA Peer Exchange – January 27, 2009

FHWA Peer Exchange – January 27, 2009

A Green Infrastructure Approach


Craig Shirk, AICPGannett Fleming, Inc.

Kris Hoellen, Director of Conservation Leadership NetworkThe Conservation Fund

Richard Starr, Division ChiefHabitat Restoration DivisionUS Fish and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Bay Field Office

.


Transportation improvements to address current and projected traffic congestion around the Waldorf, MD area

Three major alternatives:Upgrade of existing US 301Eastern BypassWestern Bypass

.


Upgrade alternatives: Substantial business community displacements & impacts Complex and lengthy construction process Increases separation of community

Bypass alternatives:Substantial natural resource impactsPotential growth management implicationsPotential business community impacts from traffic diversionsPotential community impacts from tolls

.


Project HistoryLong recognized need for transportation

improvements1993-1996 Governor’s Task Force

developed improvement concepts1999-2001 project planning study placed

on hold due to agency concerns with environmental impacts


2005 restart of project with new procedural approach and policy changes to address important resource issues

Commitment to bridge major stream crossings

Interagency Work Group process Environmental Stewardship

InitiativeFederal Highway Administration

Maryland State Highway Administration


Environmental Stewardship

Maximize enhancement, protection and improvement of natural, community and cultural resources

Non-regulatory, voluntary Stewardship actions provided

“above and beyond” compensatory mitigation

Goal – Leave environment better than existed prior to project


Environmental Stewardship Initiative Interagency Working Group (IAWG)

Federal, state and local representatives involved in all aspects of project development

Natural Resources Working Group (NRWG) Independent from project development team to provide

scientific validity for agency buy-in The Conservation Fund, Maryland Department of Natural

Resources,US Fish and Wildlife Service

Community Resources Working Group (CRWG) Watershed Modeling Working Group (WMWG)


Environmental Stewardship Opportunities Conservation of high quality lands Watershed protection efforts Wetland protection and restoration efforts Reforestation protection and restoration activities Stream protection and restoration activities Stormwater management retrofits Extension/development of pedestrian/bicycle paths Protection/enhancement of locally important historic

resource Improved wayfinding infrastructure

Green Infrastructure – What Is It?

“Strategically planned and managed networks

of natural lands, working landscapes

and other open spaces that conserve

ecosystem values and functions and provide associated benefits to human populations”


Hubs – anchor the system

Links – tie the system together

Sites – smaller areas, may not be attached

Green Infrastructure Networks

Lands - public, private & non-profit

Scales - statewide, regional & community

Landscapes - urban, suburban, rural & wild



CORRIDOR

CORRIDORCORRID

O

R

CORRIDORCore

Core

CoreCore

Core

Core areas contain fully functional natural

ecosystems, and provide high-quality

habitat for native plants and animals.

HubHub

HubHub

HubHub

Hubs are slightly fragmented

aggregations of core areas, plus contiguous

natural cover

Corridors link core areas together, and

allow animal movement and seed and pollen transfer

between them.


Green infrastructure analysis area Broader analysis area Charles County Entire Piscataway Creek watershed Entire Mattawoman Creek watershed Potomac tidal watershed between Piscataway

Creek watershed and Charles County Entire Gilbert Swamp watershedProject study area Piscataway Creek watershed Mattawoman watershed Zekiah Swamp watershed Port Tobacco watershed

.

USFWS Dept of the Army US EPA US Forest

Service NPS BLM NMFS FHWA


Eco-Logical: “An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects” Goal Driven Collaboratively developed vision Integrates ecological, economic and social factors Geographic framework defined by ecological

boundaries Transportation Benefits: ecosystem based

mitigation = predictability, efficiency, cost-effectiveness


Transportation Planning and Green Infrastructure GI Plans can inform Transportation Plans, and vice

versa GI plans can help transportation planning

organizations (State DOTs and MPOs) meet 6001 requirements

GI Plans can save Transportation staff time and lead to more streamlined reviews

For Conservation interests – the focus is on how the ‘grey’ can further promote ‘green’ goals


U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service InvolvementStream Corridor Evaluation

Assess existing stream physical condition – rate streams as geomorphically stable, unstable, or recovering

Assess stream restoration potential – develop potential restoration solutions for priority stream restoration and conservation sites identified through GI process and provide potential benefits, feasibility, potential success, and restoration costs.

Develop protocols to conduct existing stream physical conditions and stream restoration potential assessments.

Assist in GI process - develop objectives and screening criteria, select potential conservation and restoration sites, and make implementation recommendations


U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Perspective

Demonstrates Commitment to Environment

Early Planning and CoordinationEnhances protection and restoration of

natural resources and lessens impacts Effective CommunicationAgency SupportCommunity SupportEncourage Continued GI Approach to

Future Transportation Projects



Chesapeake Bay Program Addresses each of the program goals: Living

Resource Protection and Restoration; Vital Habitat Protection and Restoration; Water Quality Protection and Restoration; Sound Land Use; and Stewardship and Community

Identified and implemented ES actions can contribute to meeting state/regional Bay Program targets

EPA Region 3 Watershed Resource Registry –Pilot Project

Use results of GI process and ES opportunities for identifying watershed-based mitigation strategies

Environmental Stewardship Initiative - Connections


Maryland Department of Natural Resources Educates/supports Program Open Space Rural Legacy Program Office of Sustainability

Maryland State Highway Administration Process can educate project development,

mitigation commitments, maintenance activities

Initiative can be considered for other “mega-projects” in sensitive environmental settings

Environmental Stewardship Initiative - Connections


Environmental Stewardship Initiative – Connections

Charles County Incorporate into county land use planning, implementation of

capital projects (including local transportation improvements), and protection of important ecological areas (Mattawoman Creek watershed)

Prince George’s County Supplements existing GI program – further support for

MWCOG regional transportation planning work

Tri-County Council of Southern Maryland Opportunity to incorporate 6001 requirements into regional

transportation plans through agency coordination and consideration of priority environmental enhancement/mitigation opportunities

FHWA Peer Exchange – January 27, 2009


Thank You

Documents

FHWA Peer Exchange – January 27, 2009