ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA. County Board Agenda Item Meeting of April 21, 2018

Transcription

1 ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA County Board Agenda Item Meeting of April 21, 2018 DATE: April 13, 2018 SUBJECT: Virginia Department of Forestry Grant for riparian buffer restoration in Arlington County Parks. C. M. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Authorize the County Manager or his designee to execute a grant agreement to accept $9,657 in federal grant funds awarded by the Virginia Department of Forestry for riparian buffer restoration. 2. Appropriate $9,657 in federal grant funds awarded by the Virginia Department of Forestry ( ) to the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) ( ) in FY ISSUES: This is a request to appropriate one-time funds from the Virginia Department of Forestry to support the riparian buffer restoration in County parks, which is administered by the Parks and Natural Resources Division. SUMMARY: The project is designed to restore 3.9 acres of riparian buffer along Four Mile Run in Bluemont and Benjamin Banneker Parks. The federal grant funding will allow Arlington County to purchase 1,073 tree and shrub seedlings to be planted in areas that have been treated for invasive plant species. Arlington County will host community planting events and install deer protection around installed seedlings. This project will lead to improvements in water quality and ecosystem health. Funding for ongoing maintenance of the plantings will be allocated through Arlington County s Natural Resources Management Unit through fall of 2024 and then will be taken over with regular Park Maintenance activities. This project is outside of the scope of the Four Mile Run Restoration Plan. The grant funds would be appropriated and expended in FY 2018 and FY BACKGROUND: Arlington County s Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP), adopted by the Board in 2004, includes Recommendation 29, to manage and enhance areas adjacent to existing streams as riparian forest buffers wherever possible and appropriate. The UFMP states that a County Manager: ##### County Attorney: ***** 36. Staff: Brian Keightley, Department of Parks and Recreation

2 riparian forest buffer is a permanent area of trees, shrubs, and vegetation that is adjacent to streams or other bodies of water. These areas are managed to maintain the health and functionality of the stream to reduce the impact of pollution and to supply food and habitat to fish and other wildlife. Consistent with Recommendation 29, the project will enhance areas adjacent to Four Mile Run in Bluemont and Benjamin Banneker Parks by planting trees and allowing other vegetation to establish as a buffer. DISCUSSION: The federal grant funding is designated for the duration of the project, which begins Q3 FY 2018 thru Q2 FY 2019, and totals $9,657. This grant will be used to buy and plant trees along Four Mile Run in Bluemont and Benjamin Banneker Parks. DPR s Parks and Natural Resources Division will oversee the implementation of this project and manage the contracted work. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT: This authorization and appropriation do not require public engagement or input. This project will allow Arlington staff to raise public awareness about the benefits of planting trees for the health of Four Mile Run and the Chesapeake Bay. Arlington staff will educate participants during volunteer environmental stewardship events, as well as use the Natural Arlington blog on the County s website to promote the positive environmental outcomes of this project. FISCAL IMPACT: This grant funding requires a one-to-one match which DPR is able to meet within the department s existing budget. DPR will be contributing $5,864 in a local dollar match using already budgeted funds for invasive plant removal along with a $7,512 in-kind match value for volunteer and staff hours and related supplies

3 Bettina K. Ring State Forester COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA Department of Forestry 900 Natural Resources Drive, Suite 800 Charlottesville, Virginia (434) Fax: (434) February 15, 2018 Sarah Archer Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation 2100 Clarendon Blvd #414 Arlington, VA Re: Four Mile Run Restoration Project - 18VTCW20 Dear Ms. Sarah Archer, On behalf of the Virginia Department of Forestry, and the USFS Chesapeake Watershed Forestry Program and VA DCR Water Quality Improvement Funds it is my pleasure to notify you that a grant for $9, has been awarded to Arlington County for its Four Mile Run Restoration Project. This award represents a partial award of your original request. Your project has been assigned number 18VTCW20 which should be used in any future correspondence. Attached is paperwork that is required to activate the grant. Please fill out and return within 30 days of the date of this letter. If your paperwork is not received in this time period, funds will be awarded to another project (we will allow an extension if you notify us with valid reason for the delay.) Also, attached is a Request for Reimbursement form that must be submitted for all approved project expenses. Please read the instructions provided for completing the form. Also please read the Memorandum of Agreement that describes your record keeping and expense documentation responsibilities. We cannot reimburse your organization for expenses without proper expense documentation! Please remember to include your grant award #18VTCW20 on all documentation. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to contact me at or by at lara.johnson@dof.virginia.gov, or Barbara White at or at barbara.white@dof.virginia.gov. Congratulations on your grant award and I wish you every success in the implementation of your project! Sincerely, Lara Johnson Urban and Community Forestry Partnership Coordinator c: 18VTCW02 Mission: We Protect and Develop Healthy, Sustainable Forest Resources for Virginians.

4 Four Mile Run Restoration Project Narrative Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation Background of project area and description of need This project will restore 3.9 acres of riparian buffer along Four Mile Run, a tributary to the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay. The Four Mile Run watershed is one of the most heavily urbanized drainage basins in the Northern Virginia region. Although the watershed is fewer than 20 square miles, it is home to nearly 200,000 people who reside in adjacent portions of four localities: the counties of Arlington and Fairfax and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church. Approximately 85 percent of the watershed s land area has been developed and nearly 40 percent of the watershed is covered with impervious surfaces associated with this development. Arlington County s 2014 Stormwater Master Plan noted the poor quality of upper Four Mile Run habitat conditions and the need for riparian restoration in those areas. Organization s experience in completing similar projects. Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation has a proven track record for successful riparian planting projects, particularly within the Parks and Natural Resources Division (PNR). PNR has several management Units that work collaboratively to install and maintain woody planting material, including the Natural Resource Management, Forestry, and Environmental Landscaping Units. Together, staff in these Units can oversee volunteers and contractors, along with County field staff, in invasive plant removal, planting bare root seedlings, deer protection installation, and watering and maintenance. A similar successful project is in Bluemont Park, which is also one of the site locations in this proposal. PNR staff planned and implemented a native tree planting project last fall with the help of the TreeStewards of Northern Virginia, a local community group focused on expanding tree canopy in northern Virginia. This project included the installation of 140 trees using volunteer labor using hand tools. The entire planting only took two hours, including the installation of tree protection. The outcome of this project was very successful and the process was well documented. Although this project was smaller in scale, the process can be replicated to meet the needs of this proposal. Project Description/Scope of Work This project will restore 3.9 acres of riparian buffer along Four Mile Run in Arlington County. Arlington staff selected two project locations in County Parks, one in Benjamin Banneker Park and one in Bluemont Park. This project will include installing bare-root native tree and shrub seedlings in sites that have been prepared for planting by treating for invasive plant species using chemical and mechanical methods. Arlington County will host community planting events in addition to contracted planting and install deer protection around installed seedlings. Additional funds are included in the budget request to pilot a new type of deer protection at one of the site locations. The community planting events will include volunteers from TreeStewards of Northern Virginia and Arlington Regional Master Naturalists as well as corporate groups and new volunteers. These events will be opportunities to educate the community about the benefits of trees for water quality, while at the same time engaging volunteers in environmental stewardship.

5 The Four Mile Run Restoration Project includes two site locations along Four Mile Run in Arlington. The first location, Site 1, is in Bluemont Park and is adjacent to NOVA Parks Washington and Old Dominion Trail and Park. This area contains a Piedmont Alluvial Forest and includes riparian areas on either side of Four Mile Run. Site 1 is 1.25 acres and this project seeks to install a total of 344 native seedlings in this area, including 206 trees and 138 shrubs. Site 1 includes a previous restoration planting area that was completed in fall of 2016 by Arlington County s Forestry Unit, with the help of community volunteers. The second location, Site 2, includes areas of Benjamin Banneker Park, which is right on the border of Arlington County and the City of Falls Church. Site 2 is 2.65 acres and includes areas that are currently forest edge and areas that are currently turf grass. This proposal includes the installation of 729 seedlings at Site 2, including 438 trees and 291 shrubs. This project will lead to improvements in water quality, wildlife habitat, and ecosystem health. Funding for ongoing maintenance of the plantings, including keeping the sites free of invasive plants, will be allocated through Arlington County s Natural Resources Management Unit through fall of 2024 and then will be taken over with regular Park Maintenance activities into perpetuity. Turf area in Benjamin Banneker Park Riparian area in Bluemont Park Design plan drawing and Species list Site 1: Bluemont Park, 1.25 acres

6 1.25 acres x 300 seedlings/acre = 344 seedlings. Seedlings will be planted at 10 ft. centers. Species List Trees Quantity Pin oak 50 Willow Oak 50 Black Walnut 18 River Birch 50 Swamp Chestnut Oak 20 Sycamore 18 Shrubs Quantity Button Bush 20 Allegheny Chinquapin 25 Silky Dogwood 25 Hazelnut 25 American Plum Total Seedlings Site 2: Benjamin Banneker Park, 2.65 acres 2.65 acres x 275 = 729 seedlings. Seedlings will be planted at 10 ft. centers. Species List Trees Quantity Pin oak 110 Willow Oak 100

7 Black Walnut 45 River Birch 100 Swamp Chestnut Oak 45 Sycamore 38 Shrubs Quantity Button Bush 40 Allegheny Chinquapin 60 Silky Dogwood 60 Hazelnut 71 American Plum Total Seedlings Deliverables / Expected Outcomes The Four Mile Run Restoration Project outlined in this proposal has several expected outcomes. The first deliverable is the planting of 1073 seedlings along Four Mile Run in Arlington County. Additionally, tree protection will be installed at each planting location. The second expected outcome is that 200 community volunteers will participate in our riparian planting events. Arlington staff expect to raise public awareness about the benefits of planting trees for the health of Four Mile Run and the Chesapeake Bay during these volunteer environmental stewardship events. Finally, this proposal will aim to achieve long-term positive impacts to water quality by enhancing and expanding the riparian buffers, canopy coverage, and public engagement. This proposal includes a maintenance plan for these planting projects to ensure they are successful into perpetuity. Long Term Maintenance Plan Following the installation of 1074 seedlings and deer protection at the two site locations along Four Mile Run Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation will begin a five-year maintenance plan. Arlington County staff will conduct monthly inspections throughout the growing season for the first two years to monitor survivability and invasive plant regrowth within the project sites. Follow-up contracted invasive plant removal treatments will be implemented in spring and fall through These treatments will be monitored by County staff and funded through the Invasive Plant Program. Supplemental plantings will be installed, as needed, in order to meet the canopy goals for this area. Beyond 2024, maintenance of these sites will transition to Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation s Park Maintenance Units, with support from the Forestry Unit to complete annual inspections and maintenance pruning, as needed.

8 Form /12/2017 Applicant: Project Name: Grant Number: VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY Virginia Trees for Clean Water Grant Program BUDGET WORKSHEET Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation Four Mile Run Restoration Project ITEM (For Plant Materials: No ash trees, invasive trees or invasive shrubs will be funded) Grant Share Direct Expenses or Cash Purchases Applicant Direct Expenses or Cash Purchases Applicant In-Kind* Personal Services: Volunteer & Staff Hrs. Applicant In-Kind Donated: Services, Supplies or Equipment Use Total Trees ($9/tree, labor, protection) Supplies for volunteer planting Volunteer hours ($23.56/hour) Staff hours ($25.00/hour) Site preparation (contracted) Additional deer protection TOTAL $ 9, $ 9, $300 $ $ 4, $ 4, $ 2, $ 2, $ 5, $ 5, $300 $ $ 9, $ 5, $ 7, $ $ 23, NOTE: All grantees are required to maintain and submit written records that fully document all expenses. Total of Applicant Share Column, In-Kind and Cash Donation Column must equal or exceed Grant Share Column * For the grants, $23.56 is the federally accepted base rate for volunteers. You may use a higher value for a professional who volunteers his/her professional services.children should be at the minimum wage rate.

9

10