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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEAC Ponader RecommendationsEcological Advocacy Committee Venues Parks and Arts City of South Bend, Indiana July 16, 2020 Board of Park Commissioners City of South Bend Venues Parks and Arts 321 East Water Street South Bend, IN 46614 Dear Commissioners, On July 7, 2020, Mr. Matthew Moyers of Venues Parks and Arts informed the Ecological Advocacy Committee (EAC) that due to the Douglas Road widening project, Ponader Park, a property designated by the EAC as “ecologically sensitive,” would be impacted. Following this notification, current and former EAC members visited the site to survey the scope of the impact. On Tuesday, July 14, the EAC held an emergency meeting, which was attended by the legal counsel for St. Joseph County and representatives from DLZ Corporation, the county’s hired consultant. The purpose of this meeting was to allow DLZ to present to the EAC the scope of the project as it pertains to Ponader Park. Members of the EAC, along with VPA staff, were allowed to ask questions and voice their concerns about the potential negative impacts on Ponader Park. This letter serves as formal documentation of the committee’s concerns and recommendations. 1.Loss of parkland without remuneration In the county‘s proposal, there is no mention of remuneration to the public, VPA, or the City. By granting the request for permanent rights of way, South Bend will be permanently losing ecologically significant property. Because the EAC specifically identified Ponader Park as an area of high ecological value, and one that provides the city‘s only public access to Juday Creek, this is particularly discouraging. 2.Lift-Station Location The widening of Douglas Road will displace the existing lift station, and the current plans call for the construction of a new lift station onto land currently occupied by Ponader Park. The EAC feels that the county’s consultant did not adequately explain the necessity of relocating the lift-station into city-owned wetlands. 3.Damage from Ecological Disturbances Portions of Ponader Park, including areas targeted for rights of ways, contain established ecological communities. Disturbances caused by earth-moving equipment and other heavy machinery will result in the loss of native plants and the spread of invasive, exotic vegetation. a.Invasive Vegetation Along the eastern edge of the property, near the proposed lift station relocation, lies a substantial monoculture of invasive reed canary grass (​Phalaris arundinacea​). Disturbance to this section of the property is likely to spread the plant to other areas, and cross-contamination could create long-term liability for VPA to manage. The consultant failed to present adequate safety measures to prevent this from happening. b.Swale The u-shaped swale on the northwestern side of Ponader Park is an established natural vegetative habitat. The swale, which consists primarily of wetland sedges and forbs, effectively absorbs, filters, and cools stormwater before it enters Juday Creek. The highest-quality area of the swale is within both the permanent and temporary rights of way, thus making it susceptible to compaction, cross-contamination, and destruction. The consultant failed to demonstrate any consideration for the preservation of the swale‘s existing vegetation. c.Topsoil The committee expressed concern that the construction process would negatively impact the topsoil within the temporary right of way. A committee member asked the consultant if the construction process would attempt to retain the existing topsoil or if it would be scooped off and discarded. Another committee member asked the consultant if it was possible to remove and save the soil and the plants within the swale. The consultant was not able to answer those questions. 4.Tree Mitigation: Selection and Placement St. Joseph County is required to plant trees within the Juday Creek floodplain to mitigate those lost to construction by the Douglas Road expansion project. According to DLZ‘s landscaping plan, they have targeted Ponader Park to receive “24 trees & 12 understory tree/shrub.” Of the trees and shrubs species listed, two are not native to northern Indiana, and most of them are not currently part of the species inventory of Ponader Park (see attached inventory). The consultant mentioned that there is some flexibility in the species selection. EAC members, along with VPA Facilities and Grounds Director John Martinez, inquired about the post-planting care and maintenance of the trees. What is the warranty period? Who is responsible for the trees during and after the period of the contract? The process is not yet clearly defined. The EAC expressed concern about the location of one of the mitigation areas within Ponader Park. Because it is situated adjacent to the existing swale, we are concerned that the maturing trees will shade out the existing vegetation, thus degrading the swale‘s filtering capacity. The committee suggested that other areas of the park might be more appropriate for tree mitigation. 5.Wetland Mitigation Credits The EAC supports replacing the wetlands lost at Ponader Park at another VPA property or project such as the 35th Street Wetlands. Committee member and wetland biologist Andrew Tucker pointed out the value in focusing these credits towards other efforts within the Juday Creek Watershed to help preserve the quality of the creek. 6.Impact on Juday Creek The construction requirements specify that Juday Creek’s morphology, creekbed, and reconstructed bridge may not be inferior after construction to the current conditions. However, the committee stressed several concerns: ●The morphology of the creek, including the substrate, should be preserved. ●The creekbed should not be adversely affected. ●The replacement bridge should not negatively impact the ability of animals to transverse under the road and should strive to improve terrestrial connectivity. 7.After Construction impacts Following the completion of the proposed project, VPA will have an increased burden on maintenance operations. The newly planted trees will need care, and the disturbance caused by heavy machinery will inevitably result in an influx of invasive vegetation that will require mitigation. The EAC suggests some type of obligation upon the County or contractors to warranty the plantings for a reasonable time after the construction process so the entire burden does not fall upon VPA for the first few years. Conclusion and Recommendations The Ecological Advocacy Committee recommends that the VPA and the Board of Park Commissioners take the following actions: 1.Insist that the county’s project engineers and consultants, with input from VPA, thoroughly and carefully evaluate the location of the lift-station. 2.Require the county and their consultant to establish strict contractor guidelines to mitigate ecological damage within the rights of way including, a.Protection of the existing swales and topsoil b.Consider using a “save and replace” method, especially in areas near the swales. c.Minimizing the spread of invasive vegetation by requiring thorough washing of construction equipment before and after entering the rights of way zones. 3.Require that the City Forester and the EAC approve the species selection and placement of the mitigated trees and shrubs within the temporary easement. 4.VPA should stay in close contact with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for opportunities to use Ponader‘s wetland mitigation credits for other VPA projects. 5.Before implementation, the EAC would like to review and advise on construction design that has the potential of impacting Ponader Park or Juday Creek. 6.Require St. Joseph County to warranty the tree and shrub plantings and provide ongoing support with mitigating invasive species brought about by the construction process. 7.As soon as possible, VPA and EAC should create a comprehensive, long-term natural resource management plan for Ponader Park. On behalf of the other members of the Ecological Advocacy Committee, I would like to thank Venues Parks and Arts for allowing us the opportunity to advise on this project. We hope that you find this information useful. Sincerely, Steve Sass Chair South Bend VPA Ecological Advocacy Committee "Our mission is to provide unmatched excellence in technical and creative services to aid in fostering balanaced ecosystems that result in a healthier planet for all its inhabitants." This survey and report is courtesy of Ecometrid Survey Name: Ponader Park Permanent Right of Way Date and Location FQA Database Report Version Survey Date(s): 07/09/2020July 9-10, 12, 2020 Chicago Region USACE, 2017 2.15 Location: Ponader Park. South Bend, IN FQA Database Conservation-based Metrics Physiognomy Metrics Chicago Region USACE, 2017 Total Mean C: 1.2 Tree: 9 (12.7%) Native Mean C: 2.3 Shrub: 8 (11.3%) Details Total FQI: 10.1 Vine: 5 (7%) Practicioner: Steve Sass, Rachel Novick Native FQI: 13.8 Forb: 41 (57.7%) Weather Notes: Clear and very warm Adjusted FQI: 16.4 Grass: 4 (5.6%) Duration: 4.5 hours % C Value 0: 63.4%Sedge: 3 (4.2%) Community Type: Riparian % C Value 1-3: 16.9%Rush: 1 (1.4%) Notes: Initial survey of land to be ceded % C Value 4-6: 19.7%Fern: 0 (0%) Private/Public: Public % C Value 7-10: 0%Bryophyte: 0 (0%) Native Tree Mean C: 2.3 Native Shrub Mean C: 3 Native Herbaceous Mean C: 2.3 Species Richness Species Wetness Duration Metrics Total Species: 71 Mean Wetness: .3 Annual: 2 (2.8%) Native Species: 36 (50.7%)Native Mean Wetness: -0.2 Perennial: 60 (84.5%) Non-native Species: 35(49.3%)Biennial: 9 (12.7%) Botanical Species Taxonomic Name Common Name Family Native?C W Physiognomy Acer negundo boxelder Sapindaceae native 0 0 tree Acer saccharinum silver maple Sapindaceae native 1 -1 tree Achillea filipendulina yarrow Asteraceae non-native 0 2 forb Alisma subcordatum American water plaintain Alismataceae native 3 -2 forb Alliaria petiolata Garlic mustard Brasicaceae non-native 0 0 forb Ambrosia artemisiifolia annual ragweed Asteraceae native 0 1 forb Anthriscus caucalis chervil Apiaceae non-native 0 2 forb Arcium minus lesser burdock Asteraceae non-native 0 1 forb Artemisia vulgaris mugwort Asteraceae non-native 0 2 forb Asclepias incarnata swamp milkweed Asclepiadaceae native 3 -2 forb Asclepias syriaca common milkweed Asclepiadaceae native 0 1 forb Carex lurida sallow sedge Cyperaceae native 5 -2 sedge Carex vulpinoidea fox brown sedge Cyperaceae native 2 -1 sedge Catalpa speciosa northern catalpa Bignoniaceae non-native 0 1 tree Celastrus orbiculatus Asian bittersweet Celastraceae non-native 0 2 vine Cichorium intybus chicory Asteraceae non-native 0 1 forb Circaea canadensis enchanter's nightshade Onagraceae native 3 1 forb Cirsium arvense Canada thistle Asteraceae non-native 0 1 forb Cirsium vulgare bull thistle Asteraceae non-native 0 1 forb Cornus obliqua silky dogwood Cornaceae native 5 -1 shrub Dactylis glomerata orchard grass Poaceae non-native 0 1 grass Daucus carota Queen Anne's lace Apiaceae non-native 0 2 forb Erigeron annuus annual fleabane Asteraceae native 0 1 forb Eupatorium perfoliatum boneset Asteraceae native 4 -2 forb Frangula alnus glossy buckthorn Rhamnaceae non-native 0 -1 shrub Fraxinus pennslyvanica green ash Oleaceae native 4 -1 tree Galium obtusum blunt-leaf bedstraw Rubiaceae native 5 -1 forb Geum canadense white avens Rosaceae native 1 0 forb Geum vernum spring avens Rosaceae native 3 1 forb Hesperis matronalis dame's rocket Brasicaceae non-native 0 1 forb Iris pseudacorus yellow flag iris Iridaceae non-native 0 -2 forb Juncus tenuis path rush Juncaeae native 0 0 forb Laportea canadensis wood nettle Urticaceae native 5 -1 forb Leonurus cardiaca motherwort Lamiaceae non-native 0 2 forb Lonicera sp.Asian bush honeysuckle Caprifoliaceae non-native 0 2 shrub Ligustrum vulgare European privet Oleaceae non-native 0 1 shrub Melilotus albus white sweet closer Fabaceae non-native 0 2 forb Monarda fistulosa wild bergamot Lamiaceae native 4 1 forb Morus alba white mulberry Moraceae non-native 0 0 tree Nasturtium officinale watercress Brasicaceae non-native 0 -2 forb Oenothera biennis evening primrose Onagraceae native 0 1 forb Oxalis stricta yellow wood sorrel Oxalidaceae native 0 1 forb Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia creeper Vitaceae native 4 1 vine Persicaria pensylvanica pinkweed Polygonaceae native 0 -1 forb Persicaria virginiana jumpseed Polygonaceae native 4 0 forb Phalaris arundinacea reed canary grass Poaceae non-native 0 -1 grass Phleum pratense Common timothy Poaceae non-native 0 1 grass Phyla lanceolata northern frogfruit Verbenaceae native 4 -2 forb Phytolacca americana American pokeweed Phytolaccaceae native 0 1 forb Poa pratensis Kentucky bluegrass Poaceae non-native 0 0 grass Quercus palustris pin oak Fagaceae native 5 -1 tree Rhus hirta staghorn sumac Anacardiaceae native 1 2 tree Rosa multiflora multiflora rose Rosaceae non-native 0 1 shrub Rubus occidentalis black raspberry Rosaceae native 0 2 shrub Rumex crispus curly dock Polygonaceae non-native 0 0 forb Sambucus canadensis elderberry Caprifoliaceae native 4 -1 shrub Schoenoplectus fluviatilis river bulrush Cyperaceae native 4 -2 sedge Securigera varia crown vetch Fabaceae non-native 0 2 forb Solanum caroliniana Carolina horse-nettle Solanaceae native 0 1 forb Solanum dulcamara bittersweet nightshade Solanaceae non-native 0 0 forb Soliado altissima tall goldenrod Asteraceae native 1 1 forb Symphyotrichum pilosum frost aster Asteraceae native 0 1 forb Taraxacum officinale common dandelion Asteraceae non-native 0 1 forb Tilia americana basswood Tiliaceae native 5 1 tree Toxicodendron radicans eastern poison ivy Anacardiaceae native 2 0 vine Typha x glauca hybrid cattail Typhaceae non-native 0 -2 forb Ulmus americana American elm Ulmaceae native 3 -1 tree Ulmus pumila Siberian elm Ulmaceae non-native 0 2 tree Verbascum blattaria white moth mullein Scrophulariaceae non-native 0 1 forb Verbascum thapsus common mullein Scrophulariaceae non-native 0 2 forb Verbena hastata blue vervain Verbenaceae native 4 -1 forb Verbena urticifolia white vervain Verbenaceae native 2 0 forb Viburnum dentatum arrowood viburnum Caprifoliaceae non-native 0 0 shrub Vitis riparis riverbank grape Vitaceae native 1 -1 vine Identified only to species: Impatiens sp. Animal Species Taxonomic Name Common Name Family Aves Agelaius phoeniceus Red-winged Blackbird Icteridae Aix sponsa Wood Duck Anatidae Melospiza melodia Song sparrow Passerellidae Turdus migratorius American Robin Turdidae Insecta Bombus sp.bumblebee Apiaceae Calopteryx maculata ebony jewelwing Calopterygidae Danaus plexippus monarch Nymphalidae Haematopis grataria chickweed geometer Geometridae Pieris rapae cabbage white Pieridae Sphex ichneumoneus great golden digger wasp Hyenoptera