Making It Happen – The big picture Practical advice for project implementation
Nick Wildman, Priority Projects Coordinator
Decision Maker Workshop
April 5, 2012
In the next few minutes….
• Introduction and Background
• Developing good restoration ideas (MOST IMPORTANT!)
• Moving ideas to reality
• Preparing for implementation
• ‘Show time’
• Discussion
Fish stocking in Becket
Dam removal in Plymouth
Mission: To restore and protect the health and integrity of the Commonwealth's rivers, wetlands, and watersheds for the benefit of people, fish, and wildlife
Physical restoration projects and... • Stream flow monitoring and restoration
• Technical assistance
• Adopt-a-Stream
• Outreach / Education
• Trainings
• Policy
Yokum Brook (Becket)
Ox Pasture Brook (Rowley)
Bef
ore
After
N
Photo credit: Town of Plymouth
Photo credit: Commonwealth of Massachusetts
How to develop ‘good’ restoration ideas?
How to coordinate an effective approach?
Process-based Restoration1
Understand the site potential
Focus on drivers of ecosystem structure and function
Address root causes of degradation, not symptoms
Tailor actions to nature of impairments
1 See T. Beechie et al (2010). Process-based Principles for Restoring River Ecosystems. BioScience (60) 3: 209- 222.
Moving (Good!) Ideas to Reality
Restoration
Ideas
Restoration
Designs
Implementation
In the simplest terms, it looks like this...
Moving Ideas to Reality
Restoration
Ideas
Restoration
Designs
Implementation
Stakeholder
and public
input
Permitting
Construction
Bid Process
But you need these steps...
iterative
In the simplest terms, it looks like this...
Data
collection
and
modeling
Six key factors for dam removal success
1. Remove full vertical extent of dam
2. Remove enough of the lateral extent
3. Restore channel consistent with context
4. Evaluate and manage sediments
5. Protect sensitive species
6. Public safety trumps all
Your Mantra:
Short term disturbance =
long term gain
Moving Ideas to Reality
Restoration
Ideas
Restoration
Designs
Implementation
Data
collection
and
modeling
Stakeholder
and public
input Fundraising
Fundraising
Fundraising
Permitting
Construction
Bid Process
Mo
nito
ring
But you need these steps... ...and raise funding throughout In the simplest terms, it looks like this...
Preparing for Implementation
• Are all permits secured?
– Work start notifications and inspections
• Is all funding in order?
– Who is holding the contract?
– Who is issuing the bid?
– Flow of invoices and payments
• Who is doing construction oversight?
– Schedule and reporting
Show Time!
• Celebrate – you deserve it
• Contractor communication
– Early problem identification
– Collaboration on solutions (cost implications)
– Who is the “decider”?
• Daily cleanup and erosion control checks
• Safety First
– Maintaining control into work sites
– Limiting risks
Implementation Lessons Learned
• Communicate regularly with everyone
– Project team, public, press
• Expect the unexpected
• Document everything
– Change orders, meeting minutes, decisions
Implementation Lessons Learned (II)
• End of project = START of restoration
– Restoration relieves stress
– Mother Nature and Father Time
Eel River Headwaters April 2010 August 2010
Discussion More information: MA Division of Ecological Restoration Nick Wildman 617.626.1527 [email protected]
October 2010
December 2010
May 2011
May 2011
What do we DO about it?
• Protect building!
• Monitor