EEP Data Flow Kevin H. Miller CVS-EEP Vegetation Monitoring Workshop Wake Technical Community College Northern Campus June 9, 2009

Begin with the End in Mind Close-out!

Outline Vegetation Success –Rules and Guidelines –Close-out Summary Problems Affecting or Preventing Close-out –Examples of Vegetation Problems –Reducing Vegetation Problems at Close-out CVS-EEP Process Flow Charts –developing monitoring plans –data flow –resources

Vegetation Success Rules and Guidelines Planted stem totals for stream and wetland are: Year 3=320, Year 4=288, Year 5=260 –Stream Mitigation Guidelines (2003) US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington NC District Planted Stem total for year 5=320, with 2 or more canopy tree species being “hardwood” species –NC Administrative Code NCAC 15A 02B.0100,.0200, and (May 1, 2007) NC Division of Water Quality Ground cover must be sufficient to retrain erosion within 21 days –Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973 (As amended through 2007); NC Sedimentation Control Commission Can’t harm any Endangered or Threatened species or their habitats –Endangered Species Act of 1973 (As amended through 2008); US Fish and Wildlife Service various individual permit conditions

Vegetation Success Rules and Guidelines Ecological Performance Standards –new compensatory mitigation rule (Federal Register Vol. 73, No. 70, pp , April 10, 2008) –33 CFR Parts 325 and 3332 (USACE); §332.5 –40 CFR Part 230 (USEPA); § –part of approved “mitigation plan” (restoration plan) –based on the best available science –may be based on functional assessments, hydrology or other “aquatic resource characteristics” –prefer use of reference to reflect the range of variability resulting from natural processes and anthropogenic disturbances –should account for expected stages of development to allow early problem detection and adaptive management –vegetation community structure

Vegetation Success Close-out Summary Goal: to document project (vegetation) success based on design, as-built and monitoring data –Complicating factors have included: obtaining information from DOT missing documents inconsistent formats different monitoring protocols documented planted stem failure –We can prevent many of these problems! training, better planting, use of templates, standard protocols, etc

Physical Problems Affecting or Preventing Close-out Affecting? Preventing: –Exotic invasive species that are obviously having a detrimental affect on the buffer –Poor planted stem survival along with little or no natural stems –Bare soil and erosion –Encroachment damage

Reducing Vegetation Problems at Close-out Improving Vegetation Success –training EEP staff and contractors exotic invasive species project evaluation species identification planting plan development Improving Planting Plans –training and resources intended to increase project manager capability produce better planting plans facilitate buffer maintenance and repair contracts increase contractor/designer accountability

Reducing Vegetation Problems at Close-out Resources under development –“high risk” species list –geodatabase tool for tracking problems –standard contract templates –contracting procedures –collaborations with municipalities –and more

CVS-EEP Process Flow Charts Everyone scoping, collecting and delivering CVS- EEP monitoring data should be familiar with and follow the flow charts. Apply to vegetation monitoring data collected using the CVS-EEP protocol Outline monitoring plan development and CVS Level selection Describe data management process for both baseline and subsequent years’ data pdf

Vegetation Monitoring Plan Development

Red arrows and text indicate error identification and correction steps. EEP Staff Responsible Baseline Data Flow

Post Baseline Data Package

Red arrows and text indicate error identification and correction steps. Post Baseline Data Flow

Data Related Guidance for EEP Monitoring Contracts General Scoping Advice –Using CVS baseline data collection should reduce monitoring time/costs in years 1-5 Common Issues Related to Data Collection –Archived data will be distributed to monitoring contractors annually by CVS prior to June –Collect year 1 vegetation data in September –Coordinate data delivery with acting Vegetation Monitoring Specialist (until we have a real one)

Questions?

NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program 1652 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC (919) Kevin H. Miller Research and Grants Coordinator (acting Vegetation Specialist)