LP4: Greenspace & Habitat Restoration

(2-4 points)

Purpose

Restore bioregions, habitats and ecosystems natural to the Southeastern topography, climate zone and ecology.

Criteria

If land is degraded by uses occurring prior to developer purchase:

Hire a qualified biologist or registered landscape architect to assess the project site and prepare a Restoration Plan.

Restoration efforts are awarded points for their level of complexity, total acreage, ability to address the environmental priorities for the site, watershed or region and level of implementation.

This plan should, at a minimum: 

• Describe the scope of restoration potential for the site. Identify specific areas that can be protected and actions that can be taken to restore the area to natural conditions. Priority restoration areas include natural drainage ways, wetlands, forests, stream banks, bottomlands and infiltration areas. 
• Describe the chosen restoration areas and actions in terms of acreage, complexity and level of priority for the site, watershed or region.

Strategies include but are not limited to: 

• Soil improvement 
• Wetland repair 
• Natural hydrology restoration 
• Removal of invasive species 
• Stream day lighting

Restoration Levels:

Restoration Levels	Points
Basic	2
Complex	4

Example

A. Basic Restoration 

• Stream bank restoration within the project site 
• Removal of privet from a ¼-acre of greenspace on site

B. Complex Restoration

• Daylighting a stream in an urban area Additional Resources 
• Level IV EPA Eco regions map 
• Department of Natural Resources habitat lists 
• Corps of Engineers’ Streambank Restoration Protocol

Verification 

• Restoration Plan prepared by a qualified biologist or registered landscape architect. 
• If plan references specific requirements for buffers, protection areas or construction methodologies, integrate requirements into conceptual drawings and submit permitted site plan clearly indicating areas for preservation. 
• Submit construction documents which clearly follow the recommendations of the Restoration Plan and provide photo documentation of before and after conditions. 
• Inspection by an ECC Technical Advisor.