A Step-‐By-‐Step of Planning a Native Prairie ... · Tannas Conserva on Services Ltd. Project Goals and Timeline 2Project Goals 2Reclama on 2Process of returning

Tannas Conserva�on Services Ltd.

A Step-‐By-‐Step of Planning a Native Prairie Restoration Project

Designing for the Future

Steven Tannas


Table of Contents   Project Goals and Timeline   Resources and Informa�on Collec�on   Pre-‐site Survey   Plan Development   Implementa�on   Monitoring


Project Goals and Timeline   Project Goals   Reclama�on

  Process of returning disturbed land to its former or other produc�ve uses. It can include processes such as, decontamina�on, surface reconstruc�on, soil placement and revegeta�on

  Revegeta�on   Establishment of plants to a specified density (cover) across a site. Species requirements are only a small considera�on during most re-‐vegeta�on programs.

  Restora�on   Restora�on can take any number of forms, but in general the goal is to restore an ecosystem to its previous func�on, or to a similar func�on of another natural ecosystem chosen by the designer.


Project Goals and Timeline   Timeline   The �meline cannot be forced. It will depend on a number of variables that are completely out of your control.   Once your plan is completed an es�mated �meline is possible   Depends on project goals

  Plant species required, complexity, and establishment rate   Regulatory requirements

  Depends on budget available   Shorter �melines require higher budgets

  Depends on site condi�ons   Weeds, soil salinity, moisture regime, soil texture,


Location, Location, Location   Iden�fy the greater context of your loca�on   Iden�fy your natural sub-‐region / Ecoregion   Iden�fy surrounding sub-‐regions / Ecodistricts   Depending on jurisdic�on names vary


Ecodistricts in the Mixedgrass Natural Subregion   In Alberta, Plant Community Guides provide this informa�on


Ecoregion, Ecodistrict

Determine Dominant Ecological Range Site

Determine Reference Plant Community

Consult Maps

Data Layers Available No Data Layers Available

Soil Surveys maps Field Soil Survey

GVI, AVI, Other Sources Field Vegetation Survey

Risk Assessment

Erosion

Invasive Species

Soil Moisture

Soil Nutrients

Native Species

Wind

Regulated

Lack

Absence

Access

Water

Non-Regulated

Abundance

Surplus

Propagation Issues

Community Health and Classification

Health Successional Level


Identify Resources Available   Required Resources and Informa�on   Plant Community Guide (In Alberta) Guide by Natural Sub-‐region   Restora�on Strategies Guide (In Alberta) Guide by Natural Sub-‐region or a basic guide for the Province   Guides for neighboring Ecosystems   Soils Informa�on (Alberta – AGRISID)   Vegeta�on Informa�on (Grassland Vegeta�on Inventory)   Site Specific Plant Community   Site Specific Topography   Site Specific Soil Condi�ons   Clima�c Condi�ons


Identify Resources Available   Plant Community Guide (In Alberta) Guide by Natural Sub-‐region   Strong resource when you do not have a surrounding community to match   If you are matching a surrounding ecosystem use these guides to iden�fy suitable subs�tute species and determine informa�on on the site history, land use, and what species will most appropriately replicate the required ecosystem func�ons on the site   If No Plant Community Guide is Available

  Use field assessments in target communi�es surrounding the disturbed site. This informa�on is always more accurate for your specific loca�on


Identify Resources Available   Restora�on Strategies Guide (In Alberta) Guide by Natural Sub-‐region or a basic guide for the Province   This guide will show you step by step what does and does not work for the environment you are in.   If No Guide Is Available

  Use neighboring regions guides. Alberta’s guides apply to more than just within the province boundary.

  Find more general guides


Identify Resources Available   Online Informa�on   Soils Informa�on (Alberta – AGRISID)   Vegeta�on Informa�on (GVI, AVI…)   This informa�on is an important planning resource, it can speed up your planning process in the office and reduce the field data collec�on required.   This informa�on will iden�fy similar sites to compare to your site to determine appropriate vegeta�on and link you to the guides.   When this data is not available field data collec�on of the site in ques�on and target communi�es is more cri�cal.


Identify Resources Available   Site Specific Survey Data   It is cri�cal to have site specific survey informa�on for all restora�on projects no ma�er the size.   The more complex the restora�on the more informa�on that will be required.   If no informa�on surrounding your site is available iden�fy neighboring land that can be assessed as a target. You will Require:   Site Specific Plant Communi�es   Site Specific Topography   Site Specific Soil Condi�ons   Clima�c Condi�ons


Climate and Soils   Determine Microclima�c impacts within the Natural Sub-‐region   North face vs south face   Soil type and varia�on on the site   Pull informa�on from available sources (GVI, Soil surveys, other exis�ng sources of informa�on),   understand that most map layers exis�ng are not ground truthed at all or only superficially.





Consult Maps




Risk Assessment

Erosion

Invasive Species

Soil Moisture

Soil Nutrients

Native Species

Wind

Regulated

Lack

Absence

Access

Water

Non-Regulated

Abundance

Surplus

Propagation Issues




Vegetation Assessment   Assess your plant community   Range Health Assessments

Strengths  Quick to run  Takes only moderate training  Tells you about the community health  Tells you the successional stage  Associates with benchmark data

Weakness   Only gives top species   Cover es�mates inaccurate   Seasonality of community has impact on cover values

  Cover values rely heavily on experienced assessment specialist


  Assess your plant community   (Foothills Fescue Natural Subregion)

  Range Health Assessments   56% Healthy with Problems   Significant invasion   No Foothills Rough Fescue   Significant reduc�on in western Porcupine grass


Vegetation Assessment   Assess your plant community   Detailed Vegeta�on Transects

Strengths  More accurate and detailed info  Complete community  Tells you about the community health  Tells you the successional stage  Associates with benchmark data  Gives you all info for health assessment

Weakness   Slower to complete   Requires more training   Data only as good as assessment specialist


  Assess your plant community   Detailed Vegeta�on Transects


  Assess your plant community   Detailed Vegeta�on Transects





Consult Maps




Risk Assessment

Erosion

Invasive Species

Soil Moisture

Soil Nutrients

Native Species

Wind

Regulated

Lack

Absence

Access

Water

Non-Regulated

Abundance

Surplus

Propagation Issues




Ecological Site Restoration Risk Analysis (ESRRA)

PDF is available online at www.foothillsrestora�onforum.ca


Reclamation Risk Assessment   Project Constraints   Timing, Scale, Asethe�cs, Timeline, Budgets…

  Ecodistrict   Each natural subregions, and ecodistrict contains unique risks associated with its climate, soils, disturbance regimes, and plant communi�es. Loca�on will feed informa�on to each other risk assessment.   Is the community present adapted to disturbance


Reclamation Risk Assessment   Soil Stability   Soil texture, Topography, Climate (precipita�on, wind), geology

  Where site stability is at risk a stabiliza�on program must be employed   Cover Crops   Bio-‐engineering   Hydro-‐mulch   Erosion control blankets   Turf reinforcement ma�ng   Erosion control structures


Risk Assessment   Soil Nutrients   Low nutrient condi�ons and poor roo�ng mediums

  Establishment Failures May Occur   Species Selec�on   Fer�liza�on   Organic Ma�er Enhancement

  Rich Nutrient Condi�ons   Invasive Species Issues, compe��on issues (i.e. Bromus tectorum)

  Weed management program   Nutrient suppression   Seed mix balance and species selec�on


Risk Assessment   Soil Moisture   Dry loca�ons, droughts

  Risk of establishment failure,   Species selec�on, irriga�on, �ming of seeding, seeding rates

  Wet loca�ons   Risk of compe��on, erosion, invasive species, (i.e. Poa pratensis, Bromus inermis…)   Species selec�on, weed control, �ming of reclama�on, seeding rates


Risk Assessment   Invasive Species   Regulated weeds, Agronomic Species, Nuisance weeds

  Invasive Species Control Program, Herbicide, Tillage, Cover Crops, Compe��ve na�ve species, �ming of seeding, nutrient supression

  Na�ve Species   Propaga�on Issues, Establishment Issues, Access to Material

  Live plants, Seeding Rates, Subs�tute Species, Wild Harvest, Contract Growing

  Reliability of Sources, Contamina�on of Weeds   Get Source Informa�on, Weed Cer�ficates, Use Reliable Labs, Adap�ve Management Programs


Reclamation Risk Assessment   Range Health and Successional Level   When surrounding vegeta�on is healthy infill and natural recovery techniques may enhance recovery,   climax species may be extremely difficult to restore and �melines may be increased   When surrounding vegeta�on is unhealthy the infill may all be invasive species and weed management may become cri�cal   Early successional species may be easy to restore and reclama�on may progress quickly





Consult Maps




Risk Assessment

Erosion

Invasive Species

Soil Moisture

Soil Nutrients

Native Species

Wind

Regulated

Lack

Absence

Access

Water

Non-Regulated

Abundance

Surplus

Propagation Issues




Recovery Strategies Options

Natural Recovery

Na�ve Seed Mix

Assisted Natural Recovery


Select the Recovery Strategy


Seed Mix Design   Compare your desired species list to what is available   Determine the successional level of each species

  Colonizers vs climax species

  Determine the grazing response of each species   Decreasers (Cri�cal species to replace)   Increaser 1 (these are fairly cri�cal)   Increaser 2 (These may be site stabilizers that if used appropriately will set up your trajectory.

  Invader (These species may destabilize your trajectory

Tannas Conserva�on Services Ltd. CLRA Alberta Chapter 2014 Annual General Mee�ng and Conference

Target Recovering Plant Community Cypress Upland: Loamy, Shallow to Gravel, Gravel and Thin

Breaks Range Sites

Species Proportion of Seed Mix % PLS by Weight Plains rough fescue Festuca hallii 50% Western porcupine grass Stipa curtiseta 30% Awned wheat grass Agropyron trachycaulum var. unilateral 05% Northern wheat grass Agropyron dasystachyum 05% June Grass Koeleria macrantha 10%


Target Recovering Plant Community   Detailed Vegeta�on Transects


Seed Mix Design   Compare your desired species list to what is available   Assess the varie�es available

  Local Wild Harvest Seed (contaminants may be desirable infill species   Non-‐local Wild Harvest Seed (contaminants if na�ve may not be a benefit but will rarely cause any nega�ve impacts)

  Ecovars and similarily selected species – gene�cally robust and may be developed for your local site, if not may s�ll be suitable depending on how different the source loca�on is

  Source Selected – Species that can be located in a specific source loca�on may be ideal if the source loca�on matches your site characteris�cs


Seed Mix Design   Compare your desired species list to what is available   Proximity to Source – the appropriate distance from source to site varies by species and by loca�on.   Species sourced from a drier environment that is a long distance away may be more appropriate than one closer from a much we�er loca�on

  Each species has a different natural distribu�on. Distance ma�ers for some species more than others


Seed Mix Design   Impact of Goals on Seed Mix & Seeding Rate   Bunch grass vs Creeping (compe��on issues)   Fast vs slow establishment requirements   Erosion issues   Possible disturbance regimes   Asethe�cs


On Site Management   Experience and a�en�on to detail is cri�cal


On Site Management   Experience and a�en�on to detail is cri�cal


Adaptive Management

Correc�ve Ac�on Iden�fy Problem

Monitor Site

Design Solu�on


Adaptive Management   Monitoring Program

  What To Monitor:   Vegeta�on Density   Invasive Species   Soil Erosion

  When To Monitor:   First Season: Monthly   Second Season: Spring, Late Summer   Third Season and Onward: Mid Summer


Establish a Monitoring and Adaptive Management Program


Adaptive Management Fences Are O�en Le� Too Long

Fenced Remote Sump Site in Majorville Area: seeded na�ve cul�vars have become lodged, extensive li�er buildup has altered surface moisture, and na�ve encroachment is not occurring.


Invasive Species Management   Species that Cause Removal Concerns   Baby’s Breath (Root System)   Centless Cammomile (Seed Produc�on)   Downy Brome (Sets seed monthly)   Japanese Brome (Sets seed monthly)   Most Grasses


Invasive Species Management   Species that Cause Compe��ve Problems   Crested Wheatgrass   Quack Grass   Creeping Red Fescue   Sheep’s Fescue   Hard Fescue   Smooth Brome   Timothy   Sweet Clover   Baby’s Breath   Meadow Brome


Smooth Brome Control  Wick Applica�on with or without Mowing was the only method to significantly reduce smooth brome.   Sooth brome was reduced to levels found in off RoW Controls

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2009 2010 2011 2012

Treatment

Cove

r (%)

MMWWRoW Controlcontrol

P<0.0001


Timothy Control  While wick applica�on was the most efficient at reducing timothy, all treatments effec�vely reduced �mothy to that seen in the control

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

2009 2010 2011 2012

Year

Cove

r (%)

MMWWROWCcontrol

P<0.0001


Kentucky Bluegrass   Response of Kentucky bluegrass to treatments   Kentucky bluegrass was opportunis�c and replaced the �mothy and smooth brome

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2009 2010 2011 2012

Year

Cove

r (%

)

MMWWRoW controlcontrol

P=0.02


Kentucky Bluegrass Invasion   The interac�on of distance from the focal F. campestris plant and defolia�on on the cover of P. pratensis within stands planted with F. campestris at high (top), medium (middle) and low (bo�om) density. Means and error bars are from the mixed model analysis.

y = 5.52x2 - 16.787x + 20.779

y = 8.21x2 - 26.994x + 23.451

0

10

20

30

40

50

10 20 30 40

Cov

er (%

)

+D

-D

y = 3.07x2 - 9.912x + 11.244

y = 2.78x2 - 6.327x + 6.5971

0

10

20

30

40

50

10 20 30 40 50Distance from focal F. campestris plant (cm)

Cov

er (%

)

+D

-D

y = 8.06x2 - 15.371x + 18.538

y = 4.8x2 - 11.174x + 12.999

0

10

20

30

40

50

10 20 30

Cov

er (%

)

Defoliated

Undefoliated

Defoliated

Undefoliated

-D

+D


Kentucky Bluegrass Invasion   The mean distance (±SE) of P. pratensis encroachment from the perimeter into the plot towards focal F.

campestris plants at each of 3 different plan�ng densi�es. Le�ers show significant differences P<0.05.

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

High Medium LowDensity

Dist

ance

(cm

)

A

C

B


Recovery Strategies Publications   The First Approxima�ons of both the Dry Mixedgrass and Mixedgrass Recovery Strategies Documents are available in pdf format online at: www.foothillsrestora�onforum.ca   PDF versions of the Range Plant Community Guides for the Dry Mixedgrass, Mixedgrass, Northern Fescue and Foothills Fescue NSRs are also available via the website.   Bound Hardcopies can be purchased online, by contac�ng Donna Wa� at [email protected] or by visi�ng us at the table outside; we will be available for the dura�on of this a�ernoon.   Thank-‐You!


Contributions   Marilyn Neville   Eileen Tannas   Foothills Restora�on Forum Documents   Range Plant Community Guides   Recovery Strategies of the Dry Mixed Grass Natural Subregion


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Questions

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