FHWA Peer Exchange – January 27, 2009 A Green Infrastructure Approach

 Craig Shirk, AICP Gannett Fleming, Inc.  Kris Hoellen, Director of Conservation Leadership Network The Conservation Fund  Richard Starr, Division Chief Habitat Restoration Division US Fish and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Bay Field Office.

A Green Infrastructure Approach  Transportation improvements to address current and projected traffic congestion around the Waldorf, MD area  Three major alternatives:  Upgrade of existing US 301  Eastern Bypass  Western Bypass.

A Green Infrastructure Approach  Upgrade alternatives:  Substantial business community displacements & impacts  Complex and lengthy construction process  Increases separation of community  Bypass alternatives:  Substantial natural resource impacts  Potential growth management implications  Potential business community impacts from traffic diversions  Potential community impacts from tolls.

A Green Infrastructure Approach Project History  Long recognized need for transportation improvements  Governor’s Task Force developed improvement concepts  project planning study placed on hold due to agency concerns with environmental impacts

A Green Infrastructure Approach  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 Initiative Federal Highway Administration Maryland State Highway Administration

A Green Infrastructure Approach 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

A Green Infrastructure Approach 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)

A Green Infrastructure Approach 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” A Green Infrastructure Approach

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 A Green Infrastructure Approach

CORRIDOR Core Core areas contain fully functional natural ecosystems, and provide high-quality habitat for native plants and animals. Hub 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.

A Green Infrastructure Approach 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 watershed Project 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 A Green Infrastructure Approach

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 A Green Infrastructure Approach

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 A Green Infrastructure Approach

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Involvement  Stream 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 A Green Infrastructure Approach

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Perspective  Demonstrates Commitment to Environment  Early Planning and Coordination  Enhances protection and restoration of natural resources and lessens impacts  Effective Communication  Agency Support  Community Support  Encourage Continued GI Approach to Future Transportation Projects A Green Infrastructure Approach

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

A Green Infrastructure Approach 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

A Green Infrastructure Approach 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 A Green Infrastructure Approach Thank You