Metro's Natural Area Program - Soll
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The Natural Areas Program has grown from managing zero acres to over 16,000 acres in 20 years through two bond measures that provided $363 million. While land acquisition was relatively straightforward, ongoing ecological and land management challenges require expertise in areas like invasive species control, hydrology, forestry, monitoring, and more. Securing long-term funding for management has been difficult, with bond funds only covering acquisition and limited annual budgets restricting work. A permanent funding source, even at a modest level, is needed to better care for the natural areas portfolio.
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Metro's Natural Area Program - Soll
- 1. Metro’s Natural Area Program Stewardship lessons from 20 years of building from the ground up
- 2. Zero to 16,000 acres in 20 years teaches some lessons • Program history • Challenge of land management • Cost and funding
- 3. Greenspaces Master Plan, 1992 Formally adopted by the Metro Council Supported via resolution by majority of cities and counties in the Metro region Laid out a vision of a system of connected parks, trails and natural areas
- 4. 1995 and 2006 Natural Areas Bond Measures $363 million in total: – $279 million for regional natural areas – $69 million local share – $15 million capital grant fund (2006 only) Did not address management!!!
- 5. Metro parks and natural areas 1990-2012 x Metro Parks and Natural Areas 1990 - 2012 18000 16000 14000 12000 Bond Program 2 10000 Acres 8000 6000 Greenspaces Master Plan 4000 Multnomah County transfer/ Bond Program 1 2000 Metro management of Smith and Bybee Wetlands 0 1996 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
- 7. A diverse portfolio of 16,000 acres Nature parks Natural areas (24%) (72%) Cemeteries (0.5%) Recreational facilities (4%)
- 8. Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area
- 9. Mount Talbert Nature Park
- 10. Graham Oaks Nature Park
- 11. 1000 acres on the Sandy River
- 12. That was the easy part!
- 13. 175 sites: 0.5 to 1200 acres
- 14. Ecological Challenges • Invasive species • Altered hydrology • Forest management • Replacing lost diversity – getting plants, seeds • Direct human impacts • Impacts of past management
- 15. Knowledge challenges • Subject knowledge • Taxa knowledge • Prescribed fire • Herbicides • Heavy equipment • Farming / farm leases • Monitoring • Engineering • Legal: land use, rental, contracts, boundaries
- 16. And don’t forget people Informal trail Trail in fragile soil Poorly constructed demand trail Unauthorized bridge
- 17. And don’t forget surprises Oxbow Regional Park
- 19. Paying for it.
- 20. Volunteers are great but…..
- 21. Not all restoration can be done by volunteers
- 23. We’ve planted (and cared for!) nearly 2 million trees and shrubs • Site preparation: mow, till, spray, auger • Planting: planting, staking, tubing in cold weather • 3-5 years of follow-up: spot spray, mow, mulch Oak restoration Restoration
- 24. Tree planting
- 25. The cost of waiting
- 26. The nitty-gritty – cost per acre* Annual maintenance cost Total restoration per acre following cost per acre restoration Prairie $7,970 $300 Closed canopy forest $5,680 $50 Riparian forest $5,500 $50 Shrubland $4,700 $50 Woodland $1,900 $100 Savanna $1,370 $300 Emergent wetland $630 $25 * Many assumptions
- 27. How Metro pays for management • Funds from the bond program do not provide for long-term management • Metro funds management from operation budgets and grants • Total program budget equates to > $200 per acre – but much is not land focused • Maximum total non-grant on the ground $ for Natural Areas has been around $450,000 ($30/acre)
- 28. Until funding is solved • Focus on highest priority habitats • Protect functions tied to key outcomes • Accept many acres will be in poor condition • Try and protect experienced staff to develop and manage projects
- 29. A long-term strategy is needed Metro has relied on • Operating budget • Temporary fees on services • Now exploring local tax levy (temporary)
- 30. Permanent funding even at a modest level will allow more of this
- 31. Instead of this
Notas do Editor
- In addition to the potential for more people at Canemah Bluff, the number and diversity of sensitive species may increase at the site due to restoration efforts. The presence of additional threatened or endangered species may also call for rerouting or eliminating trails to protect important habitat. Existing access to the site is from informal, unplanned trails and a dirt road that leads to an historic cemetery. Some new trails are needed to better direct access through the site (away from unique areas as well as seasonally flooded areas), some existing trails require improvements, and some trails should be decommissioned because they duplicate other trails, traverse sensitive habitat, or are not constructed properly. If funding was available, Metro would reroute or remove informal trails near fragile soil types, unique habitats or critical wildlife areas that degrade the resources we’re protecting.