ODOT Programmatic ESA Consultation on the Federal-Aid Highway Program (FAHP) User’s Guide Training, June-July 2013 Clearing and Site Preparation and Site Restoration Clearing and Site preparation.

ODOT Programmatic ESA Consultation on the Federal-Aid Highway Program (FAHP) User’s Guide Training, June-July 2013 Flag the boundaries of clearing limits associated with site access and construction to prevent ground disturbance of critical riparian vegetation, wetlands, areas below ordinary high water, and other sensitive sites beyond the flagged boundary. All temporary erosion controls must be in-place and appropriately installed downslope of project activity until site restoration is complete. (Page 31)

ODOT Programmatic ESA Consultation on the Federal-Aid Highway Program (FAHP) User’s Guide Training, June-July 2013 During site preparation, attempt to conserve native materials for restoration, including large wood, vegetation, topsoil and channel materials (gravel, cobble and boulders). Whenever possible, leave native materials where they are found. In areas to be cleared, clip vegetation at ground level to retain root mass and encourage reestablishment of native vegetation. (Page 31)

ODOT Programmatic ESA Consultation on the Federal-Aid Highway Program (FAHP) User’s Guide Training, June-July 2013 ODOT’s standard contract specifications require removal of all vegetation, debris, and down timber from the construction limits, and this material then becomes the property of the contractor for disposal. This is also the case for excess soil. The project’s roadside development designer will determine if certain habitat elements or topsoil should be stockpiled and re-used in site restoration, and coordinate with project team members to develop appropriate plans and special provisions. (Page 31)

ODOT Programmatic ESA Consultation on the Federal-Aid Highway Program (FAHP) User’s Guide Training, June-July 2013 Site restoration is required for all temporary disturbances in regulated habitats Goal is to return the habitat to pre-construction conditions, Incorporating enhancements whenever possible. Habitat restoration should be a self- sustaining system within five years of construction. (Page 32-33)

ODOT Programmatic ESA Consultation on the Federal-Aid Highway Program (FAHP) User’s Guide Training, June-July 2013 To maintain compliance with the FAHP, the following measures should be implemented for all projects performed under the FAHP with temporary ground disturbances within the functional floodplain and riparian zone (see Glossary in Section 4.0) of listed aquatic species: Habitat Restoration Plan that meets the requirements listed below and Special Provisions (see Section ). Although this plan is no longer required to be submitted with the Project Notification, it should be submitted with the Project Completion Report, including as-built plans, site restoration goals and revegetation success criteria. No tree or shrub planting within the 20 feet of roadway clear zone (the area adjacent to the roadway needed for sight distance and safety), bridges, culverts, behind guardrail or adjacent to other permanent roadways structures ( ODOT standard for Maintenance and safety ) (Page 32-33)

ODOT Programmatic ESA Consultation on the Federal-Aid Highway Program (FAHP) User’s Guide Training, June-July 2013 Any significant disturbance of riparian vegetation, soils, streambanks, or stream channel must be cleaned up and restored after the action is complete. Although no single criterion is sufficient to measure restoration success, the intent is that the following features should be present in the upland parts of the project area, within reasonable limits of natural and management variation: – Human and livestock disturbance, if any, are confined to small areas necessary for access or other special management situations. – Areas with signs of significant past erosion are completely stabilized and healed, bare soil spaces are small and well- dispersed. (Page 32-33)

ODOT Programmatic ESA Consultation on the Federal-Aid Highway Program (FAHP) User’s Guide Training, June-July 2013 –Soil movement, such as active rills and soil deposition around plants or in small basins, is absent or slight and local. –Native woody and herbaceous vegetation, and germination microsites, are present and well distributed across the site. –Plants have normal, vigorous growth form, and a high probability of remaining vigorous, healthy and dominant over undesired competing vegetation. –Plant litter is well distributed and effective in protecting the soil with little or no litter accumulated against vegetation as a result of active sheet erosion (“litter dams”). –A continuous corridor of shrubs and trees appropriate to the site are present to provide shade and other habitat functions for the entire streambank.

ODOT Programmatic ESA Consultation on the Federal-Aid Highway Program (FAHP) User’s Guide Training, June-July 2013 ODOT recommends basing species composition on pre-construction data or reference sites, differentiated among revegetation units as appropriate for slope and aspect, hydrology, and soils, and will include a range of successional stages (early, mid, and late) following guidance in FHWA’s Roadside Revegetation manual (FHWA 2007). Locate the reference site within the same watershed, ecoregion, or recovery zone (depending on species). Reference sites should have similar site characteristics as the corresponding revegetation unit. eg-documents/roadside-revegetation-manual.pdf (Page 32-33)

ODOT Programmatic ESA Consultation on the Federal-Aid Highway Program (FAHP) User’s Guide Training, June-July 2013 Develop achievable standards for revegetation success separately in each revegetation unit to be evaluated each monitoring period. During construction, coordinate with construction office to ensure seeding and plantings are installed properly and during the appropriate planting season, as per Standard Specifications. Perform annual monitoring of habitat restoration areas until site restoration goals and success criteria have been met, following ODOT Biology Mitigation Monitoring standards (available at biology_mon.shtml). (Page 32-33)