Defining Your Project - Project Planning and Management for Ecological Restoration - page 33

• Access to refuges during high water
• Provision of habitat for dependent species
• Maintenance of habitat connectivity and ability to disperse
• Land use buffer

As discussed in chapter 2, the first step in beginning a restoration project is to develop a problem
definition. Your objective is to identify missing or underperforming functions. Using information
collected from site visits and various documents enables the condition of the various attributes of
the ecosystem to be considered. Next, those elements requiring improvement or reintroduction
are noted and a list of potential solutions is developed.
A simple tabular worksheet (table 3-1) is an effective tool for organizing initial thoughts about
a specific project site. This phase of project planning will be an iterative process as additional in-
formation is discovered.

Table 3-1. Site Inspection Worksheet

Existing Condition Desired Restored Condition Possible Actions Required

1. Site densely
vegetated by several
weed species

Weeds having a minor role in
terms of biomass and cover

Remove weeds manually;
use herbicide; provide plants
that will create a denser
cover to compete with weeds;
cover ground with mulch;
burn weeds prior to seed set;
exhaust seed bank

2. Localized erosion
rills and gullies

Stable surface slope capable
of tolerating surface runoff
without mass soil movement;
increased relief to slow water
movement and erosive energy;
avoidance of concentrating
drainage and buildup of energy

Stabilize surface by compac-
tion and mulching

3. Lack of diversity of
animal populations

A 50 percent increase in
mammal, reptile, and bird
species using data from the
existing site; more diverse
microhabitats

Introduce rocky piles and
deadfall, dense vegetation
patches, and possibly water
feature, if appropriate to
location

4.

5.