Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
contouring of the land, the placement of structures, or the layout of installed plants or changes in
the plant palette actually installed. Preparing as-built plans is a common practice with governmen-
tal agencies; however, project sponsors with limited funding sometimes find it difficult to devote
the time necessary to prepare as-built plans. This failure to prepare such plans has made it difficult
for researchers to evaluate completed restoration projects for lessons in future project design.
Photo documentation of construction and installation is very important. It is best to establish
a set of fixed photo stations. Take photos frequently and regularly at photo stations throughout the
life of the project, beginning before any on-site activities have occurred, to demonstrate before and
after conditions. It is also important to photograph each of the steps in the process of restoring a
site. These before, during, and after photographs will help you tell the story to current and future
project stakeholders who may respond to visual material better than to a written report. Photos of
volunteers having fun helping to restore a site are a good tool for recruiting volunteers for future
projects. We also suggest that you film the work performed on any large projects that may have
educational value in the future. Finally, if and when episodic events (e.g., flooding) occur that
could affect your project, we encourage you to brave the weather and photograph the event. If
the opportunity arises, you may want to arrange to take aerial photographs of the project site.
This record may also demonstrate the effectiveness of your restoration project in withstanding or
responding to these events.
Installation of Monitoring Infrastructure
In chapter 13, we will discuss the monitoring of restoration projects. Much of your monitoring
infrastructure needs to be installed during the implementation phase of the project. Whether
they are permanent markers for transects, photo stations, or fixed monitoring locations using GPS
coordinates, these monitoring locations should be documented on a set of as-built project plans.
In the past, some practitioners have affixed tags to each individual plant in order to return and
evaluate the survival, growth, and condition of each plant. This practice is not as common today
because many practitioners measure project success using a variety of monitoring protocols.
Establishment of Maintenance Period
Early in the contracting process, establish that construction bonding will need to cover an extend-
ed time period beyond the construction phase to ensure proper maintenance of the plantings.
This should be resolved while composing the specifications. However, construction companies
are sometimes hesitant to include the maintenance time period within their bond. If this is not
feasible, then ensure that a separate maintenance contract is already in place when the installation
is complete so there is no interruption of maintenance activities on-site. This is a critical time in
the development of your project, and any interruption of maintenance could seriously affect the
performance of your project. For example, any interruption in scheduled watering could result in
high plant mortality. Also, weed competition at this early stage could retard the normal growth of
your plantings or interfere with the germination of your native seed mix.
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