SDC 2.0 Working Group: Goals, Actions and Targets Nature + Water

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1 1 SDC 2.0 Working Group: Goals, Actions and Targets Nature + Water *KEY: Yellow highlights are proposed new text. NATURE 1 Goal 1: Protect, restore, and expand aquatic ecosystems. Target 1: CURRENT: By 2032, increase the acreage of wetlands along the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers by 50%. PROPOSED: Restore, protect, create, or improve 1,000 acres of critical aquatic habitat (as defined in the District s 2015 State Wildlife Action Plan). N1.1 Work with the National Park Service to update open space guidelines and management policies. N1.2 Develop an Urban Wetland Registry to facilitate restoration or creation of wetland habitat. Almost complete. N1.3 Plant and maintain an additional 100 acres of tidal wetlands in or adjacent to the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers, and 50 acres of non-tidal wetlands. Focus restoration efforts in the eight Conservation Opportunity Areas that are designated in the District s 2015 State Wildlife Action Plan. Create educational materials focused on the 8 Conservation Opportunity Areas and provide targeted outreach to communities near these areas. N1.4 Require new waterfront developments and renovations to incorporate Low Impact Development strategies. Complete. N1.5 Implement a Fisheries Management Plan to restore DC's native fisheries. Does not align with the work and priorities of DOEE s fisheries team. Proposed Rank 1: Provide X amount of habitat for X keystone species.

2 2 Proposed Rank 2: Reduce threats to 75 aquatic species of greatest conservation need (fish, crayfish, frogs, salamanders, mussels, sponges, amphipods, dragonflies, otters) by increasing and improving the amount, richness, and quality of aquatic ecosystems in the District. Proposed Rank 3: Restore sustainable populations of shad in the Anacostia River. Proposed Rank 4: Goose management Proposed Rank 5: Mussel restoration NATURE 2 Goal 2: CURRENT: Protect, restore, and expand tree cover and green landscapes, creating an integrated Districtwide ecosystem. PROPOSED: Protect, restore, and expand/enhance/promote terrestrial ecosystems. Target 2: CURRENT: Target: By 2032, cover 40% of the District with a healthy tree canopy. PROPOSED: Option 1: Reduce threats to 125 species of greatest conservation need (birds, mammals, reptiles, salamanders, snakes, butterflies, bees) by increasing and improving the amount, richness, and quality of vegetated terrestrial ecosystems in the District. OR Option 2: Restore, protect, create, or improve 2,000 acres of critical terrestrial habitat (as defined in the 2015 State Wildlife Action Plan). N2.1 Plant X (increase from 8,600) new trees citywide per year until Ensure these trees are kept alive by planting them in the right places/conditions and through proper maintenance/protections. Make more aggressive. Make ward specific. Include biodiversity and climate resilience in this language. N2.2 Replace 75% of public lighting with fixtures that reduce light pollution. Move and revised in nature goal 4. N2.3 Create a habitat connectivity plan map to guide restoration development of viable, native habitats throughout the District. Complete, but could be improved. Baltimore has a great green corridor program we could use as a model. Regional connectivity partnership.

3 3 2.4 Require trees and green space on all new development sites. Complete, but moved and revised under nature goal Stipulate use of native plant varieties for District government plantings and landscaping. Move to nature goal 4. Proposed Rank 1: Remove invasive plants on 500 acres of critical habitat. Start an invasive plant management plan, with 5 year targets for each habitat, for maximum effectiveness. Proposed Rank 2: Create or restore a minimum of 500 acres of meadow habitat. Proposed Rank 3: Plant and maintain new trees in each ward to cover 45% of the District with a healthy tree canopy: Ward 1: X Ward 2: X Ward 3: X Ward 4: X Ward 5: X Ward 6: X Ward 7: X Ward 8: X Proposed Rank 4: Work with the Vacant to Vibrant Initiative to convert at least 25 of the proposed sites to public to public green space. Proposed Rank 5: Create a green corridors partnership with Baltimore and surrounding jurisdictions. NATURE 3 Goal 3: CURRENT: Enhance access to parks and open spaces for all residents. PROPOSED: Improve human access and stewardship to the natural environment. Target 3: CURRENT: By 2032, provide parkland or natural space within a 10-minute walk of all residents. PROPOSED: Provide access to the natural environment or quality green space within a five minute walk of all residents. N3.1 Prepare an open space plan to increase residential connections to green space and the rivers. Sounds more like a goal and needs to be more measurable. N3.2 Improve the formal trail network for hiking and biking while minimizing and mitigating its impact on natural spaces.

4 4 N3.3 Increase the number of nature playspaces at all District playgrounds. N3.4 Improve transit linkages to parks and natural spaces. Very vague. N3.5 Create small parks and natural spaces in underutilized locations, based on the District s Small Park Plan. Proposed Rank 1: Create/provide information and resources on programs that promote backyard wildlife habitat, native plant gardening, and creating pollinator habitats. Proposed Rank 2: Incorporate the principles of the biophilic movement in parks, District government building design, and public landscaping. Proposed Rank 3: Create and promote opportunities for adults to learn and build connections to the natural world (i.e. Master Naturalist, Master Gardeners, and Watershed Stewards Academy). Proposed Rank 4: Convert hardscape on school grounds. Proposed Rank 5: All District schools should be within a 5-minute walk to a piece of nature/biodiverse environment/space/ meaningful nature experience / restorative spaces. NATURE 4 Goal 4: Reduce impact of built environment on nature OR Integrate natural components into the built environment, while reducing negative impact on existing nature. Target 4: PROPOSED: 90% of new and 40% existing buildings and infrastructure will incorporate design elements that reduce wildlife collisions, reduce light pollution, reduce stormwater runoff, and integrate wildlife habitat. NEW 4.1 Replace 75% of public lighting with quality fixtures that reduce light pollution and do not have a negative impact on nature. Similar, alternative action ideas: Make all city lighting International Dark Sky Association compliant, minimize brightness, and leave lighting on at night only as long as is necessary. Minimize the amount of lighting in and adjacent to parks and other green spaces to protect wildlife habitat.

5 5 REVISED N2.4 Require native plants and trees, green spaces, and biophilic design on all new development sites. MOVED N2.5 Stipulate use of native plant varieties for District government plantings and landscaping. Proposed Rank 1: Minimize removal of trees, habitats, and green spaces during new/reconstruction and substantial rehabilitation of buildings and ensure biophilic design, trees, and green spaces are incorporated into projects. Proposed Rank 2: Create a green corridors network for balance of human access, conservation, and climate adaptation. Proposed Rank 3: Create a research and innovation partnership with universities to support to provide information, data, and analyses to support species management and conservation of biodiversity. Proposed Rank 4: Bird-friendly building design and provide information on and promote lights out during peak spring and fall bird migration. WATER 1 Goal 1: CURRENT: Improve the quality of waterways to standards suitable for fishing and swimming. Target 1: PROPOSED: By 2032, make 100% of District waterways fishable and swimmable at least 95% of the time. W1.1 Field test innovative technologies to improve river water quality and green infrastructure. W1.2 Restrict the use of cosmetic pesticides, fertilizers, and emerging contaminants. W1.3 Restrict the use of harmful salts on paved surfaces in winter and promote/require use of lessharmful alternatives. W1.4 Study the feasibility of implementing nutrient and water quality trading programs. Complete. Proposed Rank 1: Fully implement the Clean Rivers Project. Proposed Rank 2: Restore local streams/ Restore X miles of streambank on the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers by 2032.

6 6 Proposed Rank 3: Address legacy toxic sediments in the Anacostia River and ensure that substantial progress is made on the Anacostia River Sediment Project. Proposed Rank 4: Increase water quality monitoring by X percent by Ensure that monitoring occurs often enough over a long enough period of time so that trends in water quality can be identified for relevant parameters. Account for emerging contaminants and provide easy access to the data by the public. Proposed Rank 5: Evaluate existing water contaminant targets and come up with a plan to improve and achieve these targets by Implement the plan. WATER 2 Goal 2: CURRENT: Relieve pressure on stormwater infrastructure and reduce long-term flood risk. PROPOSED: Reduce the volume of stormwater runoff. Target 2: CURRENT: By 2032, use 7%% of the landscape to capture rainwater for filtration and reuse. PROPOSED: By 2032, retain/capture/reuse [ ] of rainfall from every storm, District-wide, by Install and maintain > 2 million new square feet of green roofs and ensure they meet certain quality standards. 2.2 Increase the use of green infrastructure along roads and sidewalks that incorporate biodiversity and native plants. 2.3 Double the number of homes participating in the RiverSmart Homes programs and increase participation in targeted areas of the city. 2.4 Install and maintain X miles of green alleys that meet Y standard. Desire to include a biodiversity and native plant standard. 2.5 Establish pervious surface minimums for targeted zoning districts. Incorporate biodiversity and SITES into zoning regulation language. The current action is complete, so this is taking it a step further. 3.3 Expand use of neighborhood-scale water collection networks. Moved from water goal 3.

7 7 Proposed Rank 1: Maintain and enforce stormwater retention/reuse standards for new or renovated buildings. Proposed Rank 2: Develop stormwater retention potential sites registry of places where property owners are willing to have a BMP installed on their property, and ranked by highest enviro impact. Proposed Rank 3: Add in-stream or end-of-pipe retention and/or treatment where circumstances allow. Proposed Rank 4: Provide incentives for cooling towers. Proposed Rank 5: Reconcile green roof and solar goals. WATER 3 Goal 3: CURRENT: Reduce demands for potable water and increase rainwater reuse. PROPOSED: Ensure drinking water safety and access. Target 3: CURRENT: By 2032, decrease total water use by 40%. PROPOSED: By 2032, 100% of District residents have access to clean, affordable drinking water at all times. WT3.1 Update water-efficiency standards in District building codes. Complete. WT3.2 Revise building codes to allow the use of alternative water systems. Complete. WT3.4 Develop incentives for water-efficiency measures in landscaping and building design. Vague, could be strengthened. WT3.5 Expand the use of water monitoring technologies. Replace with an action about water security and resilience. Proposed Rank 1: Create a campaign to educate residents about the effects of lead in water and encourage/assist with lead service line and premise plumbing removal. Proposed Rank 2: Improve system resiliency to reduce chance of widespread outages and improve ability to respond to disasters. Proposed Rank 3: Maintain existing pipes and replace at least 1% of pipes each year.

8 8 Proposed Rank 4: Work with DC Aqueduct to monitor for contaminants, esp. emerging contaminants at DW intakers. Proposed Rank 5: Upgrade drinking water treatment processes to state-of-the-art standards. WATER 4 (ALL NEW) Goal 4: PROPOSED: Document and reduce existing groundwater impairments and prevent new ones. Target 4: PROPOSED: By 2032, reduce concentrations of indicator pollutants by X%. Proposed Rank 1: Monitor groundwater pollutant concentration and flow. Ensure that monitoring occurs often enough over a long enough period of time so that trends in WQ can be identified for relevant parameters. Proposed Rank 2: Mitigate impact of resurfacing streams and springs. Proposed Rank 3: Identify old and/or leaking oil or other storage tanks and remove. Proposed Rank 4: Daylight streams where possible.