GREEN VEINS a proposal for a regional ecological corridor network - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

GREEN VEINS

a proposal for a regional ecological corridor network for Metro Vancouver Jamie Vala

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Landscape Ecology

Patch Corridor Matrix

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Further Local Extinction Time Disconnected Habitat Patches Local Extinction

Current Condition

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Species at risk by habitat type in Metro Vancouver

Birds Plants Fish Other Insects Mammals Estuary Lake Marine River Terrestrial Wetland

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Connected Habitat Patches Local Extinction Local Recolonization Time

Proposed Condition

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Open water

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Skunk Cabbage Lysichiton americanus Black Bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch

Indicators of Healthy Habitats

Forest

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Douglas Squirrel Tamiasciurus douglasii Red Breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis Northwest Salamander Ambystoma gracile

Wetland

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Red Legged Frog Rana aurora Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris Skunk Cabbage Lysichiton americanus

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Ecosystem Services

Pollination Food Cleansing of Water Aesthetic and Cultural Decomposition Soil Generation Distribution of Water Recreation Habitat Seed Dispersal Flood Mitigation Medicinal Resources Climate Regulation Infiltration of Water

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Network Delineation Network Refinement Selection of Corridor Swath Corridor Delineation Corridor Refinement Identification of Critical Constraints Mitigation of Critical Constraints stage 1 stage 2 stage 3

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P S Existing C (Existing Existing Habita

Corridor Swath Selection Process

Critical Corridor Swaths Species at risk Waterways Connectivity Habitat types

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Complete Corridor Swath Network

Proposed Corridors

N

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Network Delineation Network Refinement Selection of Corridor Swath Corridor Delineation Corridor Refinement Identification of Critical Constraints Mitigation of Critical Constraints stage 1 stage 2 stage 3

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Criterion for Critical Corridor Swath Network

Critical Habitat Types largest patches most productive patches representative habitat types

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Critical Corridor Swath Network

Riverine Coastal Terrestrial

N

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Network Delineation Network Refinement Selection of Corridor Swath Corridor Delineation Corridor Refinement Identification of Critical Constraints Mitigation of Critical Constraints stage 1 stage 2 stage 3

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Criteria for Single Corridor Swath Selection

Variety of land uses Habitat types Important patches

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Single Corridor Swath Selection

Selected Terrestrial Corridor

N

Westwood Plateau - Old growth forest Central Valley - Burnaby Lake Agricultural Land Fraser River Estuary Burnaby Mountain - Forest

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Network Delineation Network Refinement Selection of Corridor Swath Corridor Delineation Corridor Refinement Identification of Critical Constraints Mitigation of Critical Constraints stage 1 stage 2 stage 3

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Criteria for Corridor Placement

Presence of existing vegetation Fewest barriers to movement Ownership

GREEN VEINS Corridor Options Barriers Zoning (% Public) A 6 ~ 20% B 2 ~ 80% C 3 ~ 60 %

Decision process for corridor placement

Option A Option B Option C Option B

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Placement of the Corridor within the Swath

Richmond Burnaby Coquitlam

South Arm of the Fraser River North Arm of the Fraser River Burnaby Lake Westwood Plateau Burrard Inlet Fraser River Estuary

Corridor Swath (1000 m) Corridor (100 m)

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Network Delineation Network Refinement Selection of Corridor Swath Corridor Delineation Corridor Refinement Identification of Critical Constraints Mitigation of Critical Constraints stage 1 stage 2 stage 3

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Corridor Analysis - Vegetation

Designated park land Other greenspace

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Corridor Analysis - Barriers

Minor Barrier Major Barrier

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Corridor Analysis - Habitat Types

Agricultural Shrub Open space Young forest Old forest Fresh water

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Corridor Analysis - Zoning

Park Agricultural Residential Commercial Industrial

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Habitat types (%) 31.5 agricultural 13 shrub 9

• pen space

12 young forest 23

• ld forest

1.5 freshwater 9 built

Corridor Statistics

~ 90% vegetated 13 major barriers 20 minor barriers ~50% publicly owned

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Critical Constraints

Barriers Intactness

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Network Delineation Network Refinement Selection of Corridor Swath Corridor Delineation Corridor Refinement Identification of Critical Constraints Mitigation of Critical Constraints stage 1 stage 2 stage 3

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Solutions to Barriers

Two lane road with small animal tunnel

Precedent of amphibian tunnel

Four lane road - at grade crossing

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Solutions to Barriers

Precedent of large animal tunnel

Four lane or greater road with large mammal tunnel

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Solutions to Barriers

Precedent of large animal overpass

Wildlife overpass over large highways

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Agricultural Site Residential Site Industrial Site

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Agricultural Site

Existing Shell Trail

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Proposed

A A’ Trail Railway New access point

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Fraser River Estuary Richmond Nature Park Agricultural Land

S E E E

Major Transit Lines

E

Elementary School

S

Secondary School Nodes along the corridor Nodes adjacent to the corridor Length of line connecting each node represents relative distance between nodes. Designated Bike Route

Corridor Adjacencies

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Section A-A’ Existing Section A-A’ Lower Cost Proposal Section A-A’ Higher Cost Proposal

Sections

Grassland set aside Existing Trail and Vegetation Trail enhancements and increased plant diversity Perch trees for raptors Grassland set aside

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Existing Trail

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Proposed Trail Enhancements

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Residential

Existing Site Oakland Avenue Stanley Street Empress Avenue Deer Lake Park Brantford Park

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Proposed Site

A A’ B B’

Deer Lake Park Brantford Park Street rights of way used for habitat enhancement and pedestrian improvements Backyard habitat enhancements provide stop

• ver point for native wildlife

Streets are narrower, curbless, have tree canopy, and swales to allow for easier wildlife crossings Creating a multi-storied canopy in the park adds plant diversity and creates more habitat for wildlife

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Single House Lot

Single Lot Section C-C’ C C’

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Section A-A’ Existing Section A-A’ Proposed

Sections

Wide streets without trees or sidewalks Reduced lanes, permeable parking strip, street trees, swales, and planted public land allow for movement through the corridor to adjacent habitat patches Backyards planted with native shrubs and trees can support a variety of other species

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Section B-B’ Existing

Habitat enhancement in the park creates a multi-storied canopy

Section B-B’ Proposed

Sections

Unmown grassy areas reduce maintenance costs and provide habitat Park is composed of mown lawn and a few large trees

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Existing Condition

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Proposed Condition

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Industrial

Existing Barnet Highway Runnel Drive Dewdney Trunk Road

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Proposed

Detention pond collects water from surrounding parking lots Bosque of crab apple trees provide seasonal interest, habitat value and a formal park setting Corridor trail could connect from Colony Farm to Westwood Plateau Re-organization of industrial lot allows for a narrow corridor

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Section A-A’ Existing Section A-A’ Proposed

Sections

Under utilized industrial lot Part of the lot is transformed into a hedgerow and shrub area. This land could be donated by the owner in exchange for a tax break

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Section B-B’ Existing Section B-B’ Proposed

Under utilized parking lot Stormwater detention pond collects water from surrounding parking lots. This artificial wetland creates habitat for birds and insects.

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Existing Conditions

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Proposed Conditions

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