4- Site Design- Soil + Veg Flashcards
All Prereqs/Credits in Site Design - Water
Soil + Veg P4.1- Create & communicate a soil management plan
Soil + Veg P4.2- Control & manage invasive plants
Soil + Veg P4.3- Use appropriate plants
Soil + Veg C4.4- Conserve healthy soils & appropriate vegetation (4-6 points)
Soil + Veg C4.5- Conserve special status vegetation (4 points)
Soil + Veg C4.6- Conserve & use native plants (3-6 points)
Soil + Veg C4.7- Conserve & restore native plant communities (4-6 points)
Soil + Veg C4.8- Optimize biomass (1-6 points)
Soil + Veg C4.9- Reduce urban heat island effects (4 points)
Soil + Veg C4.10- Use vegetation to minimize building energy (1-4 points)
Soil + Veg C4.11- Reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire (4 points)
P4.1: Create and communicate a soil management plan
Intent
Support healthy plants, biological communities, and water storage and infiltration by planning for soil restoration in the design stage & limiting soil disturbance during construction.
P4.1: Create and communicate a soil management plan
Requirements
- Create a SMP that:
(through site plan & worksheet)
> Locations of existing healthy soils on site & VSPZs & steps taken to protect these from any disturbance during construction.
> Highlight how construction will minimize disturbance
> ID disturbed soils that will be revegetated (soil restoration treatment zones) - for soils disturbed by current construction, soils disturbed by previous development, and any severely disturbed soils.
> Describe in detail planned treatment for each soil restoration treatment zone. Include reference soil characteristics. - Communicate the SMP to site contractors through site drawings & written specificiations.
P4.1: Create and communicate a soil management plan
Topsoil notes
Imported topsoils may NOT be mined from the following locations (unless a byproduct of a construction process)
- Green field sites
- Prime farmland, unique farmland, farmland of statewide importance or farmland of local importance
Areas with disturbed soils must be restored to a min. 12” depth (per requirements of Construction P7.3)
P4.1: Create and communicate a soil management plan
Submittal docs
- Site plan showing (with sq footage)
> Areas with existing soils that will be VSPZs
> Areas with disturbed soils that will be re-veg (show areas disturbed during current construction - for Construction P7.3 & areas previously disturbed for Construction C7.4).
> Soil restoration treatment zones delineated for each type of soil restoration treatment).
> Locations of construction staging areas & all laydown and storage areas, construction vehicle access, temp utility & construction trailer, and parking (THESE ALL have to be included in soil treatment zones - unless going to be covered by buildings, pavement, or remain bare of veg).
> Building footprints, gravel, pavement, and any areas that WON’T be reveg. - Soil Management Plan Worksheet describing:
>Treatment pan for each soil restoration zone incl. type,source, and volume of materials to match Construction P7.3.
> Methods to protect VSPZs incl. barrier specifications & dates for installation. - Signatures verifying that the SMP has been communicated to construction team.
P4.2: Control & manage invasive plants
Intent
Limit damage to local ecosystem services by developing and implementing an active management plan for the control and subsequent management of known invasive plants found on site, and by ensuring that no invasive species are brought to this site.
P4.2: Control & manage invasive plants
Requirements
- Ensure the section of the site assessment is complete and documents whether invasive species are present on the project site.
- During the project, use only plant species that are NOT listed as invasive on any federal or qualifying regional lists:
> State or local lists
> USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS database
> Invasive plant atlas of the US- website
> State noxious weed laws
> Federal noxious weed laws - Begin removal of invasive species before or during construction phase of the project. Invasive species within VSPZ must be treated using equipment that can be carried there without negatively affecting soil compaction.
- Ensure the section of the site maintenance plan (O+M P8.1) is complete…
INCLUDE:
> Integrated pest management (IPM) or plant health care (PHC) strategies
> Procedure for ID and monitoring additional invasive species that may colonize the site & new species as they are recognized by local authorities.
> Initial treatment, follow up treatments, long term control of invasive plant material disposal to prevent spread.
P4.2: Control & manage invasive plants
Submittal docs
Case 1- No invasive plants found on site
- Drawings or excerpt of construction specs that illustrate how contractors will control and manage the threat of invasive plants during construction.
- Completed vegetation worksheet describing site conditions& all plants being brought to the site, make sure no invasives.
P4.2: Control & manage invasive plants
Submittal docs
Case 2- Invasive plants ID-ed on site
- Drawings or excerpt of construction specs that illustrate how contractors will control and manage the threat of invasive plants during construction.
- Completed vegetation worksheet describing site conditions& all plants being brought to the site, make sure no invasives.
- Narrative describing the techniques used for removal,
P4.3: Use appropriate plants
Intent
Improve landscape performance and reduce resource use by installing only plants that are appropriate for site conditions, climate, and design threat.
P4.3: Use appropriate plants
Requirements
- Use only appropriate plant species that are suitable for site conditions, climate, and design intent. Both native plants and non-natives may qualify.
- Use plants that are nursery-grown, legally harvested, or salvaged for reuse from on or off site. All nursery-grown plants must use an applicable regional standard or regionally adopted guidelines. If no regional standards or guidelines exist, nursery-grown plants must use the ANSI Z60.1-2004. American Standard for Nursery Stock.
P4.3: Use appropriate plants
Submittal documentation
- Planting plan showing all new veg being installed.
- Completed Vegetation Worksheet describing site conditions and how all plants being brought to the site are appropriate for site conditions, climate, and design intent.
C4.4: Conserve healthy soils and appropriate vegetation
Intent
Maintain existing ecosystem services and landscape performance, reduce resource use, and protect soil health by limiting the disturbance of existing appropriate plants and healthy soils.
C4.4: Conserve healthy soils and appropriate vegetation
Requirements
- Conserve existing healthy soils and plants that are appropriate for site conditions, climate, and design intent in VSPZs to equal at least
> 50% of the site’s existing vegetated area
> 75% of the site’s existing vegetated area
> 95% of the site’s existing vegetated area - Ensure the section of the site assessment (Pre Design P2.2) is complete & describes / locates the healthy soils and appropriate plant species found on site.
Note: Limited restoration activities, including invasive species removal, are allowed within VSPZs (See Pre Design P2.3- designate & communicate VSPZs).
C4.4: Conserve healthy soils and appropriate vegetation
Available Points
4-6 points
> 50% of the site’s existing vegetated area (4 points)
75% of the site’s existing vegetated area (5 points)
95% of the site’s existing vegetated area (6 points)
C4.4: Conserve healthy soils and appropriate vegetation
Submittal docs
- Existing condition plan showing:
> vegetated areas prior to construction
> areas of healthy soils prior to construction
> designated VSPZs to protect healthy soils and appropriate vegetation - Site plan showing:
> Final vegetated areas, including pre-construction vegetated areas conserved on site. - Calcs showing area of conserved healthy soils & appropriate vegetation equal to percentage of total existing vegetated area chosen from list above.
- Vegetation Worksheet cataloging ex plants to remain & documenting they’re appropriate for site conditions
- Narrative describing how areas of healthy soils & appropriate vegetation will be conserved during construction.
- Photographs of areas of conserved healthy soils & appropriate vegetation both prior to and after construction.
- Applicable VSPZ docs to be submitted in Pre-Design P2.3-designate & communicate VSPZs
C4.5: Conserve special status vegetation
Intent
Protect existing ecosystem services by identifying and conserving all vegetation on site designated as special status by local, state, or federal entities
C4.5: Conserve special status vegetation
Points
4 points total
C4.5: Conserve special status vegetation
Requirements
Applies only to plants designated as special status by local, state, or federal entities.
May include (not limited to) heritage or legacy trees, specimen trees (as designated by local tree board), rare & endangered species, rare veg in a unique habitat, and unusual genetic variants of a particular species.
Native plant communities & cultural landscapes are addressed in other credits.
- Establish VSPZ to protect special status trees and other plants (Pre-Design P2.3)
- Ensure the section of the site assessment (Predesign P2.2) is completed & documents locations of trees or other plants with special status designations.
- Ensure the section of the site maintenance plan (O+M P8.1) is complete & describes the ongoing management activities to protect the integrity of the VSPZs, incl. a description of how the critical aspects of the special status plants’ culture & habitat are being protected and maintained.
Note - VSPZs can encompass 1 plant or include several plants in a group.
C4.5: Conserve special status vegetation
Submittal Docs
- Site map indicating the location, species, and size (DBH & Canopy Width) of all special status vegetation. Indicate the extent of all VSPZs, noting distances from protected vegetation.
- Letter from a local, state, or federal agency describing how the vegetation has special status. Design team may make the case that certain vegetation has special status even when no agency that has documented the veg as such.
- Applicable VSPZ documentation (submitted in Pre-design P2.3)
C4.5: Conserve special status vegetation
Rec Strategies
- Additional planting within the 1 - foot radius per inch DBH should be avoided.
Planting here runs a high risk of damaging tree roots and soil chem and having other negative impacts due to excessive irrigation.
> Planting should be limited to 25% of the area under the tree canopy or the are within one foot radius per inch DBH & must be done in consultation with a certified arborist or other appropriately qualified professional.
C4.6: Conserve & Use Native Plants
Intent
Foster habitat for native wildlife that is necessary for plant reproduction by conserving or installing plants that are native to the site’s ecoregion.
