LCW ReportCovers JD033110 - Locust ChapelFINAL/ SDP PLAN SUBMITTAL 1.0 Introduction PURPOSE AND NEED Biohabitats, Inc., was retained by the Land Design & Development, Inc. project

LOCUST CHAPEL WOODS

Habitat Management Plan

FINAL/ SDP PLAN SUBMITTAL

MAY 2010

HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLAN

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Management Plan Goals and Objectives

3.0 Site Location, Description, History

4.0 Current Surrounding Land Uses

5.0 Existing Natural Resources

6.0 Proposed Land Use and Relevant Policy

7.0 Recommendations

Appendices

1

3

5

6

7

12

13

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• Restoring the Earth and Inspiring Ecological Stewardship • 1



1.0 Introduction

PURPOSE AND NEED

Biohabitats, Inc., was retained by the Land Design & Development, Inc. project devel-opment team to prepare this plan for the proposed Locust Chapel community located along Ilchester Road, in Ellicott City, Maryland. The site is approximately 36 acres. The Locust Chapel community is a new proposed residential development intended to be a vibrant and progressive community of 63 home sites. The community develop-ment plan emphasizes the protection and management of the land’s natural resources, and includes an open space area of approximately 20 acres. This open space includes forest conservation easement and open space recreational areas hereafter referred to as Locust Chapel Woods.

The purpose of this document is to provide a plan that satisfi es the Habitat Management Plan (HMP) requirements in accordance with Howard County Maryland’s Green Neighborhoods Program. This plan is intended to recommend habi-tat management strategies for open space areas in a way that envisions these spaces and their habitats as an attractive, exciting and important community asset for both wildlife and people.

HMP INTENT AND COMPONENTS

The intent of developing a Habitat Management Plan HMP is to “increase the pro-tection and creation of native habitat areas” within Howard County. To this end the Green Neighborhood Guidance Document provides criteria to be used to “develop and implement a long-term Habitat Management Plan focused on conserving, enhanc-ing, and creating ecological communities”.

The subsequent pages present the required elements of a Habitat Management Plan:

Locate, identify, and assess the quality of all natural resources on, and adjacent to,• the site. Identify existing habitat areas that need management and any new habitat areas that • will be created.Identify threats that the proposed development poses to these areas and implementa-• tion actions to reduce these threats.Outline short- and long-term goals with corresponding implementation actions and • time frames, to manage the natural resources. Habitat management goals should include restoring native habitat and managing habitat for specifi c native wildlife spe-cies, including providing food, water, and cover.Estimate implementation costs.• Indicate that a long-term Habitat Management Agreement and funding mechanism • will be implemented with the designated homeowners association, council of unit owners or management organization. The Habitat Management Agreement shall be recorded as an attachment to the homeowners association or council of unit owners documents.

LOCUST CHAPEL WOODS

© Biohabitats, Inc.2


The HMP brings together components of site history and context in an assessment of existing habitat communities and natural resources on the site. Along with the site’s history and habitat conditions, relevant programs and strategies for habitat manage-ment that are already being applied in the region are considered, in order for the plan to be an integrated approach to addressing issues of broader ecological health and preservation.

DEVELOPING THE HMPTo develop the HMP several steps were taken by Biohabitats. First, the context of the site was adequately explored through fi eld observation and natural resource information collection. Next, the future site plans were examined to understand the full range of impacts that the proposed development will have on the site’s habitats. Recommendations and goals for protecting and enhancing the habitat, within the con-text of the development footprint, were then developed. Finally, key elements includ-ing monitoring, HOA participation in management, and implementation costs were considered.

KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION

This plan outlines the strategies to manage existing habitat areas and restore or create new habitat. Adaptive management, is a key part of the successful implementation of the Habitat Management Plan. It provides a framework for dealing with inherent vari-ability and changes in natural systems and allows for stakeholder-based decisions on management, informed by monitoring and analysis.

The principles of landscape ecology have also informed this habitat management plan. When considering the potential habitat restoration and regeneration on the site it was important to explore and understand the broad scale habitat connections that the site has. The spatial patterns that defi ne the landscape provide a foundation for under-standing the ecological function and processes inherent in restoration and preservation of the existing habitat on the site.

The developer shall be responsible for the implementation of short-term goals and ac-tions. The Homeowner’s association, council of unit owners or management organiza-tion shall be responsible for the implementation of long-term goals and actions for a minimum of 5 years.




PLAN BASIS AND CONSIDERATIONS

An important impetus and the basis for this HMP has been the Howard County Green Neighborhoods Program, an innovative voluntary program begun by Howard County Executive Ken Ulman. The program encourages development that conserves and protects natural resources while providing sustainable com-munities. An integral part of the Green Neighborhood checklist is environmental protection. The Program provides require-ments for a Habitat Management Agreement between the devel-oper, the Home Owners Association, and the County as part of the fulfi llment of this Habitat Management Plan.

On a broader scale Locust Chapel Woods and the associated planned residential development are located within the Lower Patapsco River Watershed. The Lower Patapsco Watershed contains a variety of land uses including substantial urban and suburban development. These historic development patterns have contributed to the elimination and degradation of both aquatic and terrestrial habitat in many portions of the water-shed. The Lower Patapsco River Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS) provides a watershed restoration plan and implementation strategy that serves as a work plan for the protection and restoration of water quality and aquatic terrestrial habitats. Therefore any development decisions, including this habitat management plan, that help to mitigate negative impacts on the watershed health provide further support to this water-shed action strategy.

The Locust Chapel Woods Habitat Management Plan will con-tribute to the broader watershed health through 1) the imple-mentation of practices that prioritize water quality including rainwater harvesting, micro-bioretention & permeable paving, and 2) the preservation of vegetated buffers along streams and wetlands that run within the property boundary or along its edges. The project site contains stream headwaters which are of particular sensitivity in terms of protection and conservation measures. These measures can then serve to contribute to the overall habitat preservation and restoration measures developed in this plan.

2.0 Management Plan Goals and Objectives

Agricultural & woodland landscape context.

LOCUST CHAPEL WOODS



LOCUST CHAPEL WOODS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Management Goal 1: Natural Resource Protection and Threat Reduction

Objective 1a: Establish and enforce resource protection zones during community construction to conserve natural areas and sensitive features including woods, wetlands and streams.

Objective 1b: Guide landscape maintenance and operations to minimize stormwater run-off, reduce urban pollutant loadings, and manage nutrient inputs.

Objective 1c: Address threats of nuisance animal species and non-native invasive plants.

Management Goal 2: Restore and Enhance Native Habitats

Objective 2a: Enhance and restore headwater stream and wetland areas.

Objective 2b: Restore native woodland stands.

Objective 2c: Establish woodland edge transition scrub-shrub and meadow areas.

Management Goal 3: Manage habitats for specifi c wildlife species assemblages

Objective 3a: Manage habitat areas for reptiles and amphibians.

Objective 3b: Manage habitat areas for songbirds and bats.

Objective 3c: Manage habitat areas for pollinator species (butterfl ies, moths, bee and hummingbirds).




The habitat types currently found on the site are infl uenced and shaped by the surrounding context, including geography, climate, soils, and historic development patterns.

LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY

The Locust Chapel site is located at the intersection of Ilchester Road and Beechwood Road in Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland. It is comprised of two parcels, one 29.5 acre parcel located at 4738 Ilchester Road and one 7 acre parcel located at 4640 Ilchester Road. The site is within the Bonnie Branch subwatershed which is part of the 37.9 square mile Lower North Branch of the Patapsco watershed. This portion of Howard County lies within the transition zone between the Piedmont and Coastal Plain Physiographic Provinces with the Locust Chapel site being underlain by the Baltimore Gabbro Complex of extrusive igneous rock. The terrain on site is a mix of rolling hills and steep ravines containing headwater seeps and wet-lands that feed larger streams down slope, more specifi cally the Bonnie Branch.

CLIMATE

Temperate midatlantic weather patterns in this region include precipitation ranges between 35 and 55” of rainfall annually and average temperatures of 25 degrees in February and 72 degrees in August, in a given year. The wettest month of the year is May, with an average rainfall of 4.78 inches.

SOILS

Nine different soil types exist on the Locust Chapel site with slopes ranging from 3 to 60%. Soils are mainly well-drained to moderately well-drained. In the forest area the most prominent soil is a non-hydric, well-drained soil. Nine different soil types exist on the site, with slopes ranging from 3 to 60%. One area of soil is noted as farmland of statewide importance, and there are several partially hydric (variably wet) soils which indicate the headwaters of stream and/or wetland areas. The most prevalent soil is Manor-Bannertown sandy loams, considered rocky with slopes of 25 -65%, which are well-drained. The second most prevalent is another well-drained soil, Gladstone-Legore com-plex, with 8-15% slopes.

Hydric and partially hydric soils indicate wetland and stream headwaters, which are particularly sensitive in terms of the po-tential effects on downstream health and impacts on regulated natural areas. Well-drained soils provide for good infi ltration, if given the opportunity. Locations of soils with this quality are useful in terms of any stormwater infi ltration practices being implemented with the development of this project site.

LANDSCAPE

The landscape surrounding the site has a rural character punctu-ated by open fi elds and areas of woodland but urbanization pressures have become more common in the region. This has been made apparent by the change in the Lower Patapsco’s overall watershed health, as noted above. The main vistas are of undeveloped fi elds and forest, but dense residential development is also increasing in the vicinity of the site.

HISTORICAL LAND USE

Historically this property was part of a larger farmstead and the legacy of the past agricultural uses is still apparent with the ex-istence of the open pasture/abandoned fi elds and the remaining barns and outbuildings on the site. Before the land was farmed it was mainly forested. Portions of the site which are too steep were probably never farmed but may have been cleared of trees at some point for lumber.

3.0 Site Location, Description, History

Onsite existing woodland understory.

LOCUST CHAPEL WOODS



Current land uses in the surrounding area include low-density exurban and suburban residential development, along with some remaining farmsteads. The Locust Chapel property is located in a region of increasing development pressure, just a few miles from major interchanges for interstate highways including I-95, I-695, I-195, making it very accessible to the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan areas.

The property itself is nestled into an area surrounded by the Patapsco Valley State Park on the northern and eastern sides. The state park property is just to the north of Bonnie Branch Road and to the east of Ilchester Road. Patapsco Valley State Park, a linear park that extends 32 miles and encompasses 14,000 acres, is one of Maryland’s fi rst state parks and the as-sociated valley and its resources provide very important habitat areas for wildlife. The vicinity that this property has to the park has signifi cance in that the forest conservation easement will help provide further connectivity to birds and other wildlife including small mammals and amphibians.

In the immediate vicinity of the property there are no County parks or open space but within fi ve to six miles’ driving dis-tance, there are a range of County-run open space areas includ-ing Rockburn Branch Park, which has trails, natural areas, play-ing fi elds, and picnic pavilions; Timbers at Troy Golf Course; Worthington Dog Park; Centennial Park in Columbia; and Benjamin Banneker Historic Park.

4.0 Current Surrounding Land Uses

Fallow agricultural land succession.




HABITAT, COMMUNITIES AND CONDITIONS

Five habitat community types were identifi ed on the Locust Chapel site, through the review of existing documents and by conducting fi eld observations. (Figure 1 in the Appendix) Two documents used for background descriptions of the site include a Forest Conservation Plan and a Wetland Delineation per-formed by others1. Field observations made during a site visit were added to notes from these previous reports, further defi n-ing the habitat communities. The following descriptions of these existing habitats include their general species composition and relative health/condition.

Wildlife that use the site and surrounding area include white-tailed deer, red fox, eastern cottontail, cardinal, American crow, eastern garter snake and many others, including a variety of neotropical migratory birds. Wildlife are often impacted by habitat destruction and fragmentation with the development and disturbance associated with residential uses. This HMP propos-es conserving, restoring and managing habitats to support and sustain native wildlife communities.

ABANDONED FIELD

Agricultural fi elds that are no longer active are now in the early stages of succession towards a forested community and com-prise a majority (approx. 16.4 acres) of the site’s habitat area. The

species composition is dominated by various species of meadow grasses with a more minor component of forbs (non-grass herbaceous vegetation). Tree and shrub species can be found as seedlings spread throughout the fi elds. Although the dominant vegetation of this community is native, non-native invasive plant species were observed and could potentially become the dominant species.

FENCEROW/FOREST EDGE

The fencerow community on the site is an ecotone (transition between habitat types) that forms the edge or transition from the mostly herbaceous fi eld community to the forest commu-nity. This area is comprised mainly of shade intolerant shrub and vine plant species that form a vertical structure of vegeta-tion. It is this edge community that has the highest diversity of species and potential habitat. There are approximately 2.3 acres of fencerow community. Because of the availability of light and proximity to disturbance, this community is severely impacted by non-native invasive plant species occupying every vertical layer in the community: groundcover, understory and overstory.

FOREST The Locust Chapel site contains 17.7 acres of mixed hardwood deciduous forest habitat. The majority of this forest community is an early to mid-successional Tulip Poplar Forest associa-tion composed primarily of tulip poplar in the overstory. The forests on the site have been heavily impacted in recent years with introduced non-native invasive plant species and increased numbers of white-tailed deer. The combination of competitive exclusion and intense browsing has caused a drastic reduction in available regeneration of desirable overstory species and reduced diversity of understory shrub species.

STREAMS, DRAINAGE AND WETLANDS

Four small wetland/stream systems were delineated on this site as part of the FSD fi eld survey. The headwater wetland/drainage system that occurs on the southwest boundary of the site is com-posed of remnant farm ponds that have either partially or fully fi lled with sediment. Currently this emergent wetland drains offsite to an intermittent channel on the far side of Beechwood Road. The wetland components of these systems have been impacted by sedimentation and invasion by non-native inva-sive plant species. The streams that drain these wetlands show

5.0 Existing Natural Resources

1 Robert H. Vogel Engineering. January 2009.

Onsite mature woodland understory.

LOCUST CHAPEL WOODS



COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME

Queen Anne’s Lace Daucus carota

clover Trifolium sp.

thistle Cirsium sp.

various grasses Poa sp.

blackberry Rubus sp.

ash Fraxinus sp.

tulip poplar Liriodendron tulipifera

black locust Robinia pseudoacacia

ABANDONED FIELDNATIVE PLANTS


thistle Cirsium sp.

multifl ora rose Rosa multifl ora

Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica

Johnsongrass Sorghum halepense

ABANDONED FIELDINVASIVE PLANTS

signs of degradation in the form of excessive erosion. A second wetland seep/ drainage system originates in the central portion of the property fl owing northwest off site. An area of trash and debris includes an old farm dumping area with some trees, metal, and glass, etc.

A third drainage system/course originates along the northern property line and fl ows northwest off the property. A fourth wetland seep originates at the base of specimen tree number 6 and drains off site towards the northwest.

SPECIES COMPOSITION

Although there is a signifi cant non-native invasive plant com-ponent to the natural communities on the site, native plants still play a prominent role in defi ning the different habitat com-munities. The following tables describe the native plants (in green) and the invasives (in gold) present in each of the different habitats on the site: Onsite fallow farm fi eld succession.

HABITAT USEHABITAT USEREPRESENTATIVE WILDLIFE SPECIES


red fox Vulpes vulpes

eastern cottontail Sylvilagus fl oridanus

northern cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

common crow Corvus brachyrchos

eastern garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis

American toad Bufo americanus

downy woodpecker Picoides pubescens

white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus






black cherry Prunus serotina

red mulberry Morus rubra

boxelder Acer negundo

black walnut Juglans nigra

ash Fraxinus sp.


red cedar Juniperus virginiana

grape Vitis sp.

poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans

greenbriar Smilax sp.

FENCEROW/FOREST EDGENATIVE PLANTS


princess tree Pawlonia tomentosa


barberry Berberis vulgaris

black jetbread Phodotypos scandens

bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus

English ivy Hedera helix

mile-a-minute Persicaria perfoliata


FENCEROW/FOREST EDGEINVASIVE PLANTS

Woody vines and shrub forest edge.

Invasive plant species at the forest edge.

LOCUST CHAPEL WOODS





sycamore Platanus occidentalis

American elm Ulmus americana

fl owering dogwood Cornus fl orida

black cherry Prunus serotina

ash Fraxinus sp.

boxelder Acer negundo

sassafras Sassafras albidum

ironwood Carpinus caroliniana

spicebush Lindera benzoin


Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides

sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis

Jack-in-the-pulpit Arisaema triphyllum

FORESTNATIVE PLANTS


princess tree Pawlonia tomentosa


barberry Berberis vulgaris

black jetbread Phodotypos scandens

bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus

English ivy Hedera helix

mile-a-minute Persicaria perfoliata


FORESTINVASIVE PLANTS

Onsite native forest.





water pepper Polygonum hydropiper

duckweed Lemna sp.

fl at sedge Cyperus sp.

soft rush Juncus effusus

jewelweed Impatiens capensis

WETLANDSNATIVE PLANTS


Japanese stiltgrass Microstegium vimineum

wavyleaf basketgrass Oplismenus hirtellus

WETLANDSINVASIVE PLANTS

STRESSORS, THREATS AND VECTORS

Stressors in this system are factors that support the spread and proliferation of non-native invasive plant species, decrease native biodiversity and impact habitat include. Factors that cause this stress include ground disturbance, excess nutrients, new plant species invasions, and nuisance wildlife herbivory (eg the feed-ing of white-tailed deer). The general threats to habitat function and ecosystem processes that are present in this area include regional suburban & infrastructure development, stormwater run-off and non-point source pollutants, and nuisance or over-abundant wildlife (e.g., over-populated deer, free-ranging cats and feral dogs). The specifi c vectors (means of transmission) that are present in this system, which can impact vegetative commu-nity composition, structure and health include:

• Vehicle traffi c and mowing along roadways in the region• Farm abandonment which leads to increases in weedy

vegetation• Wind-blown seeds and other propagules of invasive species• Spread of seeds by bird consumption and feces (and other

animals)• Planting of non-native invasive species in regional landscape

plantings• Physical disturbance of soils and the soil seed bank by clearing

and grading• Latent delivery of legacy agricultural nutrients from fertilizers

Onsite headwater wetland area.

Onsite wavy leaf basketgrass invaded area.

LOCUST CHAPEL WOODS



MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL

The plan calls for detached dwelling residential development incorporating shared access drives and integrated stormwater management, as well as some larger stormwater treatment areas on the edges. Residential development is focused on the front-age of Ilchester Road, while the woodland conservation area and open space is distributed along back edges, and along existing headwater stream and woodland resources. The development is designed in such a way to maximize patches of uninterrupted forest and open space conservation areas and with that there is an opportunity to consider the interface between the residential development and associated stormwater ponds, and the wood-land conservation area with a buffer of native meadow plantings.

GREEN COMMUNITIES The Howard County Green Neighborhoods program allows a community to obtain credits toward a sustainability designation if it includes public access to open space on the property for use as passive and active amenity. Further credits are avail-able through the habitat management plan, which identifi es, conserves, and enhances natural resources and ecological communities.

The habitat areas being managed on this site for conservation and preservation provide a natural refuge for wildlife while also serving as an amenity to residents and other visitors. As habitat improves with the management of invasive species and the res-toration of native habitat it is likely that more wildlife will make this area home, providing further learning and observation opportunities for residents. The woodland and associated native scrub/shrub and meadow interface will provide an opportunity for the introduction of some informal trails that travel through the various native vegetative areas and provide further passive recreation opportunities for exploration and respite.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS Terrestrial The Forest Conservation Plan for the Locust Chapel develop-ment site indicates 3.9 acres of existing forest clearing through site grading. Approximately 17 acres of woodland is being retained in a conservation easement to protect the woods and headwater streams and wetlands. Several potential impacts to terrestrial resources that will be addressed by the recommenda-tions in this plan include:• Woodland fragmentation• Introduction or spread of invasive species• Degradation of wildlife habitat value

Aquatic The proposed Locust Chapel site development plan avoids disturbance and provides stormwater management infrastruc-ture that would minimize the negative impact to existing on-site stream and wetland resources. The proposed dry swales and de-tention basins are designed to promote infi ltration of rainwater shed from impervious surfaces. These facilities should provide a positive impact on the recharge of groundwater locally. Several potential impacts to aquatic resources that will be addressed by the recommendations in this plan include:• Stream erosion and degradation• Wetland habitat degradation• Impacts from nutrients and urban run-off pollutants

6.0 Proposed Land Use and Relevant Policy

Onsite browsed vegetation.




LANDSCAPE ECOLOGICAL CONTEXT

Landscape ecology involves an understanding of habitat and resource needs within the context of broader landscape spatial patterns and ecosystem function. Integrating these issues with human needs informs the habitat management planning process and the suggestions made in each management area. Connecting fragmented habitat patches on the site and making wildlife corri-dor connections to adjacent natural areas is important.

Restoring habitat (eg. woodlands) will provide food, shelter, and cover for neotropical migratory woodland birds. Stream and wetland restoration will enhance habitat for amphibian breeding grounds and restored meadow habitat areas (along with backyard and native plantings) will provide habitat opportunities for pol-linators (bees, hummingbirds) and other grassland-dependent fauna such as moths, skippers, and butterfl ies.

HABITAT MANAGEMENT AREAS

The proposed habitat management areas, as described below, are shown in Figure 2 (Appendices).

Forest—Woodland StandsAreas that are currently forested on the Locust Chapel site are being dedicated to Howard County as forest conservation easement areas. The goals for these areas would be to maintain and improve forest canopy cover through supplemental plant-ing in forest gaps and protecting natural regeneration from deer browse. The removal of non-native invasive species(NNIS) should also be a priority in the forested areas to reduce competi-tion with native plants.

Forest Edge Transition Scrub-ShrubThe enhancement of the existing forest edge and fencerow habitat would provide food, shelter, and secluded passageways for travel from one area to another for various species of birds, butterfl ies, bees, and small mammals. With various levels of vegetation, from short herbaceous plants to shrubs to trees, an “edge” effect provides habitat for more types of animals than one level of vegetation alone.

Meadow Edge TransitionThe current unforested areas should be enhanced to provide meadow/old fi eld habitat. The removal of NNIS should also be a priority in the open areas to reduce competition with native plants.

Stormwater Management AreasThe proposed stormwater management facilities should be treated as an opportunity to provide wet meadow and scrub/shrub habitat. The goals for these areas are to provide native species diversity through planting a diverse palette of native her-baceous and shrub species. Also, protecting planted and natural regeneration from deer browse would enhance the viability of this habitat. The removal of NNIS should also be a priority in the stormwater management areas to reduce competition with native plants.

7.0 Recommendations

Disturbed & invaded vegetation.

LOCUST CHAPEL WOODS



Open Space Recreation AreasAlthough recreation areas may be more maintained than other open space and natural areas, an effort should be made to provide as many resources as possible for wildlife. The goals for these areas are to provide native species diversity through planting a diverse palette of native plant species. Also, protect-ing planted and natural regeneration from deer browse would enhance the viability of these areas habitat attributes. The pre-vention and removal of NNIS should also be a priority in this area to reduce competition with native plants.

Residential/Backyard HabitatAlong the boundary between habitat areas and housing there are opportunities for enhanced habitat connections through alterna-tive landscape management and vegetation, such as pollinator species gardens, native wildfl ower or groundcover beds, and landscape tree & shrub plantings. These opportunities can be personalized within individual homeowners’ lots.

HABITAT MANAGEMENT NEEDS

Non-native Invasive Species Management (NNIS)The management of forest habitat in Locust Chapel Woods should include a long-term integrated vegetation management plan for NNIS. Due to the diversity of NNIS found on-site, a complex strategy with temporally varied applications of various control techniques will likely be required. There are three clas-sifi cations of techniques: mechanical, chemical, and biological. For many species (see table above) a multi-pronged approach is necessary for effective management involving mechanical removal (cutting) followed by chemical treatment (herbicide application).

The NNIS species management strategy for this site is to protect the native species assemblages present, to treat existing invasive dominated areas, to monitor and do maintenance to avoid future invasions. Techniques need to be sensitive to existing natural resources including wetlands, streams, fl oodplains and non-target vegetation. The preferred technique, where possible, is to fi rst use physical removal by weed pulling, digging, grubbing or weed-wrenching. Where herbicide application is needed for dense or well-established infestations the appropriate com-pounds must be used, such as herbicides approved for use in

COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME PULLING/GRUBBING

MOWING GIRDLING FOLIAR HERBICIDE

CUT ANDHERBICIDE

Norway maple Acer pseudoplatanoides * * * *

princess tree Paulownia tomentosa * * * *

barberry Berberis vulgaris * * *

multifl ora rose Rosa multifl ora * * *

black jetbread Rhodotypos scandens * * *

bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus * * *

English ivy Hedera helix * * *

Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica * * *

mile-a-minute Persicaria perfoliata * *

Johnsongrass Sorghum halepense2 * *

thistle Cirsium sp.2 * *

garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata * *

Japanese stiltgrass Microstegium vimineum * * *

wavyleaf basketgrass Oplismenus hirtellus * * *

TREE

SHRUB

VINE

HERBACEOUS

1 Removal through pulling or grubbing effective only for smaller size tree species.

NON-NATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES

2 State-listed noxious weeds required to be controlled.




or near aquatic resources and wetlands. Herbicides shall be applied by a licensed contractor and in accordance with all State and Federal laws and the manufacturer’s instructions. Herbicides shall be used in extreme moderation and only for specifi c targeted control and for limited durations. Targeted invasive weed pulling, digging or grubbing of light infestations is an appropriate stewardship activity for volunteers. Other alternative methods that may be explored include biological control agents (such as weevils or beetles), but many of these controls are experimental and need to be further developed and used with caution.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is recommended for all landscape management to reduce use of chemicals and reduce potential environmental impacts.

Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Elements Recommended wildlife habitat elements that can be added to enhance habitat functions include basking logs (in pond areas), vernal pool wetlands, downed logs & limbs (in woods), and nesting boxes. These potential elements include the following purpose and function:

Deer ManagementThe deer population in and around the Locust Chapel site appears to be excessive, as indicated by the heavily browsed spicebush plants in the forest understory. These plants are only consumed when little else is available. Therefore, any future habitat management plan would be incomplete without ad-dressing the deer population. Howard County currently has a comprehensive management plan for white-tailed deer that has been developed by the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks, Natural Resource Division, with input from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife and Heritage Division, and the Howard County Cooperative Extension Service. The goal of the Howard County Comprehensive Deer Management Plan is to “maintain a stable, balanced deer population within acceptable limits of the biologi-cal, ecological and cultural carrying capacities” through a host of management tools. The nearby Patapsco Valley State Park is part of MD DNR’s Management Hunt Permit program to help control deer populations.

These tools can and should be utilized at the Locust Chapel site in coordination with greater deer management activities of the

Restored stream & wetland example

Environmental education signage example.

HABITAT ELEMENT PURPOSE & FUNCTION

Basking logs Pond feature for turtle and snake basking

Vernal pools Wetland type for seasonal amphibian breeding

Downed logs and limbs Wood groundcover for insects, reptiles & amphibians

Nesting boxes Meadow edge bluebird boxes, open space/ woodland edge bat boxes, pond & stream edge wood duck boxes

LOCUST CHAPEL WOODS



region. A potential non-lethal option for managing deer activity within the Locust Chapel property is deer exclusion fencing. Strategic fencing would protect both naturally regenerating vegetation as well as planted material. Deer exclusion fencing can utilized on a range of scales, from a site wide scale, encom-passing the entire tract, or simply protecting individual trees or shrubs.

Considerations: Repellents (Chemical repellents and scare repellents) - • volunteer or professionalLethal Control Measures - professional• Suburban Whitetail Management of Maryland (SWMM) • (www.swmminc.com)- professional Deer Resistant Plants - volunteer or professional•

Advantages of repellents are that they are relatively inexpensive and can be applied by non-professionals or volunteers. One dis-advantage of repellants is that they can be temporary (wash off with heavy rains) and may need periodic application.

Meadow Management The edge/transition meadow habitats to be established shall be maintained by annual mowing. Mowing shall occur once a year, to a height of approximately four inches to suppress woody veg-etation. The annual mowing must be timed (in early March to early April) to avoid impacting ground-nesting birds and other seasonal grassland wildlife uses.

Stream, Drainage and Wetland ManagementHeadwater wetlands and stream channels have been delineated in the development plan process and protected through inclu-sion in the open space and forest conservation areas of the site. These measures will generally protect them from direct physical impact of the developed project infrastructure and buildings. The headwater drainages and wetlands on-site will also benefi t from additional habitat enhancement and restoration measures. The headwater wetland and drainage segment on the western-most end of the open space area would benefi t from natural channel restoration design techniques to correct an existing head-cut (a deeply incised, degraded channel caused by down-cutting run-off fl ows). This restoration could potentially occur in the form of a regenerative stormwater conveyance (RSC). The RSC approach involves handling stormwater run-off fl ows and directing the water through control measures that hold wa-ter on the landscape to move it more slowly through a restored channel and wetland system that includes establishing appropri-ate native plant communities. The remaining headwater drain-age and wetland system can be enhanced through recommended non-native invasive species control and reforestation plantings consisting of native species in the riparian buffer.

Trash ManagementIn order to preserve the habitat value and continue efforts to enhance the woodland and streams, management of trash and refuse is an important element of the overall management plan. Household trash, cleared yard waste, and even domestic pet waste should all be handled and disposed of appropriately. These elements have the potential to enhance nutrient levels and contaminant loads in waterbodies and open space areas. Often, these contaminants are concentrated as stormwater runoff picks up pollutants and washes them into centralized locations. Such loads present both an ecological and a human health issues. Areas close to wetlands or headwaters of streams are particularly sensitive to these pressures.

The largest location of dumping includes tires, metal parts, and glass and needs to be removed from the on-site riparian area as a component of the implementation plan. Other recommendations for waste management include: providing a community com-posting area (with associated educational signage), organizing an annual community clean-up day and participating in the County’s recycling, yard waste & hazardous waste collection program.

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Native groundcover - ferns.




Cleaning up pet waste in open space areas, natural habitat areas, and along all trails is an important step in reducing nutrient and bacteria impacts to waterways.

Nutrient Management The use of conventional commercial fertilizers contributes to nutrient run-off and excess loading to receiving streams. In lieu of commercial chemical fertilizers, organic or other ‘natural’ fertilizers shall be utilized in situations where fertilization is deemed necessary. Fertilizer may be used for initial establish-ment of native habitat plantings and in enhancing the vigor of existing native landscape trees & shrubs. The areas where natural/organic fertilizers shall be used comprehensively include backyard habitats; restored habitats for forest, forest-edge, and meadow edge; open space recreation areas; and stormwater management areas.

PROPOSED ACTION ITEMS

Proposed action items have been developed for this site based on the goals and objectives derived from the County’s Green Neighborhood Program and from the identifi ed resource needs and opportunities identifi ed for Locust Chapel. The action items are defi ned under each of the three main habitat manage-ment goals for each HMP objective. The proposed action items are provided in Table 1 and are also correlated to the designated Habitat Management Areas depicted in Figure 2 (see Appendix).

MONITORING AND ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT

Resource MonitoringProtected, restored and managed habitats require a continual vigilance in understanding the shifts that occur in the system as a result of implemented management measures. It is impor-tant to be aware of positive and negative changes and poten-tial impacts to the managed area. Some specifi c monitoring parameters that are appropriate for this site’s habitats include the following:

Monitoring Type

Stream and Wetland Monitoring:• Bankfull width & elevation, channel cross-sections and wet-

ted width, channel slopeGroundwater & surface water elevations• Substrate characterization and pebble count• Soil texture, chemistry and nutrients• Sedimentation rates• Vegetation composition & percent cover• Aquatic organism (e.g. macroinvertebrates)• Wildlife species occurrence & use• Example: Rapid Stream Assessment Technique (Galli 1992)•

Vegetation Monitoring:• Native plant species & percent cover

Canopy closure & interspersion• Invasive species composition & cover• Seedling regeneration• Plant health & vigor (i.e., disease) • Woody debris & leaf litter fall• Mast/seed production • Wildlife species occurrence & use•

Wildlife Monitoring:• Native species composition/diversity

Frog call survey• Wildlife use (remote cameras/hair tubes • Pitfall traps and cover boards• Nuisance/feral species occurrence• Small mammal live trapping• Plant herbivory (e.g., deer browse)• Lepidoptera (butterfl y, skipper & moth) survey• Breeding bird call survey • Cannon or mist net bird survey•

The various monitoring types can vary from annual to periodic (e.g., 5 year incremental monitoring), which can be implemented by a combination of professional biologists/ecologists and volunteers.

LOCUST CHAPEL WOODS



Adaptive ManagementAdaptive management is a tool used to manage natural resources and to help cope with the changes and instability inherent in altered natural systems and their ecological functions. Often, a main goal is to build resiliency into both the resource as well as the management approach, allowing fl exibility and the incorpo-ration of new information into the decision making process.

An adaptive management approach can be of tremendous benefi t in facilitating dialogue between resource managers, the homeowners association and the various resident end users of an open space. Through the incorporation of all interests a consensus can be achieved, in order to move forward with the combined support of all parties, empowering the stakeholders and engaging them in the process.

Some of the key components of an adaptive management pro-cess that can be applied to this Locust Chapel Woods HMP are as follows:

Establish a clear, common purpose and vision (see 1.0 • Introduction)Design a model for the system (see below)• Develop a management plan with targets and an assumed • trajectory to maximize results and learning (e.g. this HMP)Develop a monitoring plan to test assumptions• Implement project elements, monitoring and management • plansAnalyze monitoring data and communicate results• Utilize results to adapt and learn (e.g., adjust priorities, • O&M and monitoring strategies)

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND STEWARDSHIP

Interpretive SignageInterpretive signage should be included at select points to highlight various management actions that have been taken through this plan. Ideally such signs would list native species in the woodland and the stream system, as well as highlight site hydrology, the native vegetation and meadow areas at the interface of woodland and residential property. The signage can also highlight the impacts (both positive and negative) of human development and management, the stormwater ponds/wetlands and other treatment elements that highlight this community’s efforts toward sustainable design and development.

Volunteer StewardshipHaving the Locust Chapel Woods habitat area as a natural ame-nity for the Locust Chapel community provides an opportunity for the residents to take an active role in management through stewardship activities. Such an active role in the management of the natural resources guarantees longevity and resilience, and a rich legacy of participation and individual investment.

Volunteers can seek assistance from groups such as: the Howard County Master Gardeners (planting), Girl Scouts of America, Boy Scouts of America, Audubon Maryland-DC (maintaining or monitoring nest boxes), Howard County Parks & Recreation, and Howard County Maryland Cooperative Extension Offi ce.

Private Landowner Lots HabitatHabitat comes in various sizes, from a townhome balcony to a 20-plus-acre farm. With some guidance individual homeowners can create a garden that attracts wildlife and helps restore habitat in residential areas. By providing food, water, cover and/or a place for wildlife to raise their young anyone can help improve wildlife habitat. There are a few national and regionally recog-nized programs that assist in creating this “backyard habitat.” Maryland’s Wild Acres Program (www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/wildacres.asp) administered through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources provides information necessary to create habitats for locally specifi c species of wildlife. Through The National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Habitats Program (www.nwf.org/backyard) individual lot owners can take steps to enhance their yards in order to provide a variety of wildlife habitat enhancements. Through this program a homeowner can qualify to become an offi cial Certifi ed Wildlife Habitat™.

ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM MODEL

SYSTEM Eastern deciduous forest & successional transitions

STRESSORS Prior agricultural land useWildlife/Herbivory Non-native invasive plant species

ACTIONS Habitat restoration & managementMonitoring (feedback) & action adjustments

MECHANISMS Developer, HOA community stewards & procured professional management




Planting species native to the region is important. It is also important that non-native invasive species are not planted. See the following website for a listing of native plants for this region: http://www.howardcountymd.gov/DPZ/DPZDocs/Native%20Plant%20List.pdf.

IMPLEMENTATION TIMEFRAME

The recommended action items for the HMP for both the developer (short term, construction phase actions), and for the homeowners’ association (long term implementation & manage-ment actions) are provided in Table 1 (Appendices).

Five-year PlanOnce the developer has completed its short-term elements of the HMP, in accordance with milestones listed in the plan, and once the County has signed off on the successful implementation of those elements, the home owners association has a fi ve-year ob-ligation to maintain the habitat areas identifi ed under the plan. That maintenance is to include at a minimum: debris removal, installation and maintenance of nesting boxes, planting and maintenance of native vegetation as habitat and forage, control and management of invasive species listed above, the protection of plants, soil, and water resources from damage and disease, and educational efforts to inform the residents about the pur-pose and protection of the Habitat Management Area and ways that homeowners can be instrumental to the success.

At the end of the fi ve-year period a review of planning and maintenance activities is suggested, as well as an evaluation of the successes to date. It is then suggested that the HOA con-sider any further update or revisions to the plan and successive measures in management that should be undertaken. Because adaptive management is key to the success of the preservation and sustainability of the Habitat Management Areas a review is suggested at the end of the fi ve years to ensure that the most appropriate techniques and practices are being utilized and are showing adequate success.

Habitat garden example.

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LOCUST CHAPEL WOODS



ITEM UNIT UNIT COST

Headwater Stream Restoration Linear Foot (LF) $150 - $300

Headwater Wetland Enhancement Acre (AC) $10,000 - $30,000

Woodland Restoration (Planting) Acre (AC) $7,000 - $25,000

Scrub-Shrub Edge Planting Acre (AC) $5,000 - $12,000

Meadow Area Seedling Square foot (SF) $0.06 - $ 0.12

Non-native Invasive Management Acre (AC) $2,000 - $5,000

Nuisance Wildlife Mgt. (Deer) Acre (AC) $500 - $1,000

Open Space Landscape & Habitat Maintenance Acre (AC) $250 - $1,000

ESTIMATED RELATIVE COST RANGES

ORGANIZATION GRANT TYPES CONTACT LINK

Chesapeake Bay Trust Mini; Watershed & Restoration Grants www.cbt.org

MD Department of Natural Resources Forest Stewardship Program http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/programapps/stewcon.asp

NOAA Restoration Center Community-based Restoration Program http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration/projects_programs/crp/index.html

MD Deparment of the Environment 319 Non-Point Source Program http://www.mde.state.md.us/About-MDE/grants/index.asp

POTENTIAL RESTORATION FUNDING SOURCES

IMPLEMENTATION COSTS

Estimated General Unit CostsFor implementation planning purposes, this section includes relative costs for the specifi c kinds of habitat restoration and management recommended in this plan. The associated gen-eral unit estimates of probable costs have been developed from Biohabitats’ professional experience, reference sources and bid cost considerations from previous projects (see list below).

Potential Restoration Funding SourcesThe funding of habitat protection, restoration and manage-ment will need to come from a variety of potential sources. The Green Neighborhoods HMP requires that the Developer will provide a long-term Habitat Management Agreement and funding mechanism that will be implemented by the designated homeowners association, council of unit owners or manage-

ment organization. Some of the possible sources of funding and implementation resources include the following:• Dedicate a portion of the Home Owner’s Association dues or

fee to habitat management• Establish a separate Home Owner habitat management ‘green

infrastructure/utility’ fee• Monetary donation fund raising drive and endowment or trust

establishment• Garner volunteer community steward labor and materials and

service donations• Apply for appropriate natural resources grant programs (see

listing below)

Several options for funding mechanisms and associated agencies/organizations are provided below.




Appendices

Table 1 Recommendations--Action Items for Plan Goals & ObjectivesAction Items; Long- & Short-Term Phasing; and Responsibilities

1 Forest- 2 Headwater Wetland/ 3 Forest Edge- 4 Open Space 5 Meadow Edge 6 Stormwater 7 Residential/Woodland Stands Stream System Scrub-Shrub Recreation Areas Transition Mgt. Areas Backyard Habitat

Management Goal 1: Natural Resource Protection and Threat ReductionObjective 1a Establish and enforce resource protection zones during community construction to conserve natural areas and sensitive features... (Short Term Phase 1 During Construction; Developer & Contractor)Adhere to all approved Erosion & Sediment Control practices (and inspections) and established limits of disturbance ● ●Strictly adhere to the associated avoidance of regulated & other sensitive environmental features and their buffers ● ● ● ●Provide special provisions including warranty, inspection and repair requirements for the construction contractor for all planting, stabilization and stormwater BMPs

● ● ●Prepare a Habitat Management Agreement & funding mechanims for HOA; develop educational materials & a HMP website template ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Objective 1b Guide landscape maintenance and operations to minimize stormwater run-off, reduce urban pollutant loadings... (Interim Phase 2 Post-Construction Year 1; Contractor & HOA or Land Manager)

Adhere to native indigenous planting palettes for landscape plantings to the full extent possible and do not plant any non‐native invasive specie ● ● ● ● ● ● ●Limit fertilizer use and use organic or natural fertilizers only where needed, and employ integrated pest management instead of pesticides andherbicides ● ● ● ● ● ● ●Control pet wastes through targeted clean‐up requirements, education and enforcement ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Objective 1c Address threats of nuisance animal species and non-native invasive plants (Interim Phase 2 Post-Construction Year 1; HOA or Land Manager)

Work with the County and site resource manager to manage white‐tailed deer through control measures (population control/humane harvest, planting strategies, repellants, planting protection & exclosures; provide resource agency contacts & deer management pamphlets for residents). ● ● ● ● ● ● ●Education home owners and establish standards to control free roaming dogs and cats; as well as determining strategies e.g., with Humane Society orAnimal Control for feral animals ● ● ● ● ● ● ●Undertake control measures for the invasive plant species identified and other potential new invasions, reduce vectors through landscape maintenanceand habitat restoration & management ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Management Goal 2: Restore and Enhance Native HabitatsObjective 2a Enhance and restore headwater stream and wetland areas (Short Term Phase 1 During Construction; Developer & Contractor)Repair head‐cut along western most on‐site drainage area & stabilize buffer with plantings; Also remove large trash/debris ●Improve the condition of riparian stream and wetland buffers thru invasive species management in accordance with action item 1c‐‐iii ● ●Supplement buffers with additional native planting upon invasive species control in accordance with action item 2b‐‐ ● ●

Objective 2b Restore native woodland stands ( Short Term Phase 1 During Construction; Developer & Contractor)

Conduct woodland invasive plant species control and deer management action items ● ● ●Plant native deciduous hydrophytic plant species of trees & shrub along wetland and stream buffer areas where voids occur ●Upon upland woods invasive plant species control supplement existing trees with inter‐planted mixed mesophytic trees and shrubs ●

Objective 2c Establish woodland edge transition scrub-shrub and meadow areas ( Long Term Phase 3 Post-Construction Years 2-3 to allow resource allocation& prior phase implementation; Developer)

Procure and plant native shrub, vine and herbaceous species to establish scrub‐shrub transition areas on wood transition edge ●Procure and plant & seed native meadow herbaceous grasses (warm season bunch grasses), forbs and wildflowers ●Manage meadow areas through periodic targeted mowing once per year, dormant season in later winter or early spring (early March to early April), andapply targeted invasive species control in scrub‐shrub zone ● ●

Management Goal 3: Manage habitats for Specific Wildlife Species AssemblagesObjective 3a Manage habitat areas for reptiles and amphibians ( Long Term Phase 3 Post-Construction Years 2-3; HOA or Land Manager)

Provide habitat elements for reptiles, specifically place basking logs in wetlands and existing ponds ● ●Provide habitat elements for amphibians by creating vernal (seasonal)and more permanent pools within headwater stream and wetland restorationefforts ● ●Add habitat component consisting of downed logs and limbs in woods ●

Objective 3b Manage habitat areas for songbirds and bats ( Long Term Phase 4 Post-Construction Years 3-5;HOA or Land Manager)

Plant native forage trees, shrubs & vines to provide seeds, nuts and berries, etc. for birds ● ● ● ●Plant riparian woodland buffers to fill gaps and connect corridors (e.g., to off‐site natural areas) ● ● ●Strategically place bat boxes and bluebird nesting boxes (purchased or constructed) along forest transition edge (Miaintain guided by recommendationfrom MD‐DNR or Audubon) ● ●

Objective 3c Manage habitat areas for pollinator species (butterflies, moths, bees and hummingbirds) (Long Term Phase 4 Post-Construction Years 3-5; HOA or Land Manager)Plant native meadow transition zone with native grasses, forbs & wildflowers for pollinators (define specific pollinator group habitat focus areas)evaluate changes, and implement potential replacement or additional plantings over time ● ●Incorporate pollinator garden plantings of wildflowers along stormwater BMPs and into the community (e.g., backyard habitats) to attract butterfliesand hummingbirds (specific pollinator group habitat focus ● ●Maintain pollinator meadow areas long‐term in native grasses and wildflowers by strategic mowing each year in late winter or early spring (i.e., earlyMarch to early‐April) ●

Management Area

Ilchester Road

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Locust Chapel Woods Final Habitat Management Plan - Figure 1 Ecological Characteristics Existing ConditionsJanuary 6, 2010

Existing Conditions

Forest & Fencerow/ Forest Edge

Wetlands

Streams

Abandoned field/Non-woodland area

Existing Buildings

N300’0’

Locust Chapel Site Boundary

Nonnative Invasive Dominated

150’

Erosion/Head-Cut

Debris/Trash

Ilchester Road

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Management Areas

Forest Woodland Stands (1)

Forest Edge Transition - Scrub Shrub (3)

Open Space Recreation Areas (4)

Meadow Edge Transition (5)

Stormwater Management Areas (6)

Residential/ Backyard Habitat (7)

Locust Chapel Woods Final Habitat Management Plan - Figure 2 Proposed Management AreasJanuary 6, 2010

Headwater Wetland/Drainage Systems (2)

N

Forest Conservation Easement

300’0’ 150’

Headwater channels/wetlands

Proposed Nature Trail and Seating Areas

Streams

Headwater Channels/ Wetlands

Restore the Earth & Inspire Ecological StewardshipB i ohab itat s Inc . • 2 0 8 1 Cl i p p e r Pa rk R o a d • B al t i m o r e , Ma r yl a n d • w w w.b i ohab itat s .co m • May 2 0 1 0


Documents

LCW ReportCovers JD033110 - Locust ChapelFINAL/ SDP PLAN SUBMITTAL 1.0 Introduction PURPOSE AND NEED Biohabitats, Inc., was retained by the Land Design & Development, Inc. project