Restoration Project Documents - Project Planning and Management for Ecological Restoration - page 133

Chapter 9
Restoration Project Documents
When the scale of a restoration project requires that you work with and through others, you need
to develop instructions to guide those who are conducting the work on your behalf. How well you
communicate to the project team and stakeholders is by far the most critical element for successful
project completion. On many restoration projects, we find that there can be as many as six core
team members involved in the planning and design phases, with the possibility of two dozen ad-
ditional volunteers and tradespeople participating during the implementation phase. Maintaining
clear, consistent, and meaningful communications across the large number of project participants
and the vast number of activities involved in completing a project is a full-time job.
Architects, designers, engineers, and landscape architects rely on drawings, the bill of mate-
rials, and specifications to communicate desired outcomes during the implementation phase of
the project. These project documents, sometimes referred to as the “bid package” or “contract
documents,” are essential communication tools that every design professional relies on to ensure
that the project is properly constructed as designed. Restoration projects range in size and com-
plexity, with different needs depending on the purpose of the project, specific site circumstances,
and local governmental requirements. Landscape architects and civil engineers are licensed pro-
fessionals with the appropriate background and training to prepare effective contract documents
for ecological restoration projects. We have found that engineers and landscape architects are
extremely helpful in accomplishing specific restoration tasks but that the overall project manage-
ment and coordination must lie in the hands of the ecological restoration practitioner. However,
in most cases in the United States for which project construction and installation must go out to
bid, either a licensed landscape architect or a licensed civil engineer will need to stamp and sign
the construction drawings.
Providing a variety of useful functions, project documents detail in writing the decisions you
make throughout the design development process. They communicate your intentions and are
frequently required by regulatory agencies during permit review and approval processes. Spon-
soring organizations often require that some form of project documentation be developed to en-
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