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Home My WebLink About024 WC Setback Planting Plan North Park Development – Watercourse Setback Planting Plan July 2017 Master Plan Submittal Prepared for North Park Development Prepared by: WATERCOURSE SETBACK PLANTING PLAN This planting plan is based on the requirements as outlined in the City of Bozeman Unified Development Code (UDC) (38.23.100.f) and is being submitted as part of the North Park Development Master Plan. Currently there are no plans to encroach on the watercourse setback areas, but future lot development could affect the stream corridor. Therefore, this planting plan provides general guidelines including species selection and suitability related to hydrology with the emphasis on native plant materials that can be referenced when future lots are designed. The North Park Development borders the perennial flowing stream, Mandeville Creek, which runs through the entire property and vegetation along the stream corridor is primarily limited to herbaceous vegetation. However, there are some cottonwood and willow sapling and tree willow species near the southern boundary of the property. The UDC focuses on Zone 1 and Zone 2 watercourse setbacks for vegetation establishment. Since the distance between Zone 1 and Zone 2 is relatively short, this planting plan does not specifically differentiate Zones 1 and 2 and instead includes planting zones based on the hydrological setting. Generally, the southern portion of the Mandeville Creek corridor includes a much broader riparian/wetland corridor that provides the opportunity for plant establishment based on the hydrologic regime. This zone extends northward to roughly the confluence of Mandeville Creek and an un-named tributary to Mandeville Creek. The stream corridor north of the confluence is generally characterized as a “losing” reach where surface water is lost to the subsurface and the hydrologic zone suitable for riparian vegetation establishment is much narrower than the southern portion. Therefore, the probability for successful establishment of vegetation will be much greater if plants are established from the edge of the channel to the top of the bank. As alluded to above, the majority of plantings should be established as close to the stream channel as possible. Therefore an additional Stream/Wetland Zone is included in order to provide plantings within the riverine wetland fringe to provide structural diversity and improve aquatic habitat and channel stabilization through the establishment of a woody overstory. Selected vegetation should include tuberous bases preferred by herbivores and submergent plants that provide food directly or serve as substrates for invertebrates. Potential food sources include spikerush, mannagrass, bulrush, sedge, and smartweed. Cover needs vary from species to species making it important to provide a variety of cover types. Cover and nesting habitat should be provided by a combination of spikerush, bulrush, sedge, willow, cottonwood, red-osier dogwood, common chokecherry, Canada wildrye, slender wheatgrass, streambank wheatgrass, and Western wheatgrasses. Final plant species selection and location will be based on water depths, availability, and cost. Plant materials may include wetland sod mats from onsite sources, wetland plugs, containerized plants, and seed. Wetland sod removed during construction shall, wherever possible, be salvaged and replanted on exposed soils. The selection of species and plant materials was based on existing native vegetation and anticipated topographical, hydrological, and soil conditions. The plan incorporates species identified during the wetland inventory as well as native wetland plants indigenous to the area were selected to increase diversity and to fill anticipated hydrological niches within the stream corridor. Appendix A contains selected species lists, seed mixes, and planting details. Proposed herbaceous and woody species are listed by hydrological zone in Table A1. Table A1 also addresses optimum planting dates and configuration. Tables A2, A3, and A4 summarize the streambank, wetland, and upland seed mixes, respectively. Figures 1-3 outline wetland and stream corridor areas along with general cross sections that outline planting zones. RIVERINE/WETLAND PLANTINGS A variety of plant materials should be used along the riparian corridor to increase species diversity and decrease erosion on disturbed riparian areas. The lower- and mid-bank slopes of the creeks should be planted with a combination of cuttings, wetland sod mats from salvaged on-site sources (where applicable), wetland plugs, and seeded herbaceous species. Live cuttings at least 1 to 2 inches in diameter and 3 to 4 feet long should also be planted where the cutting base elevation coincides with the low flow or low groundwater elevation in or on the bank slope where there is suitable hydrology. The cuttings should be soaked for at least 3 to 4 days and then inserted to base flow groundwater depths with the use of a dibble bar. The cutting should be planted such that ¾ of the cutting is below the ground surface. Species planted from cuttings may include willow species, cottonwood species, and red-osier dogwood. Plant community clusters using a variety of containerized and ball-and-burlap materials should be planted on the top of bank. Species may include red-osier dogwood, thin-leafed alder, common chokecherry, Western serviceberry, American plum, quaking aspen, and black and thin-leaf cottonwood. Shrubs such as Douglas hawthorne, golden currant, common snowberry, Wood’s rose, Canada buffaloberry, and American silverberry should be planted in the transition zones between the riparian corridor and uplands. Planting density will include seeding or sodding at 100 percent of all disturbed areas. Plantings of trees and shrubs will include a minimum of one shrub for every ten linear feet and one tree for every 30 linear feet of the watercourse shall be required along each side of the watercourse or as outlined in the Bozeman Uniform Development Code. Clumping of trees and shrubs consistent with the suitable hydrologic zones should be implemented. Species lists and seed mixes are included in Appendix A. The lists include hydrologic planting zones for selected species and assume that no irrigation is established. If irrigation is planned, the transitional zone species can be planted in any portion of the watercourse setback zones. References Allied Engineering Services, Inc., March, 2017 (updated May, 2017), Draft Wetland Delineation Report, North Park Development, Bozeman Montana. Allied Engineering Services, Inc., March, 2006 Mitigation Plan, Black Bull Subdivision, Gallatin County, Montana Natural Resource Conservation Service, accessed July 21, 2017, electronic Field Office Technical guide (eFOTG) 393-1through 393-4, June 2011 http://efotg.nrcs.usda.gov, Gallatin County Montana. Platt, W.S., C. Armour, et al 1987. Methods for evaluating riparian habitats with application to management. USDA, Forest Service General Tech Report, INT-221, 177 pp. Polster, David F., August 2016, Natural Processes: Restoration of Drastically Disturbed Sites, Duncan, BC, Canada. APPENDIX A SPECIES LISTS AND SEED MIXES North Park Development Planting Plan – July 2017 Master Plan Submittal TABLE A1 RIPARIAN PLANTS BY HYDROLOGICAL PLANTING ZONE Transitional Zone (Note 1) +18 in to +6 in (saturation BGS) Shallow Zone (Note 2) +6 in to –6 in (saturation BGS to water depth) Mid Zone (Note 3) –6 in to –20 in (water depth) Herbaceous and Forb Species slender wheatgrass creeping spikerush beaked sedge streambank wheatgrass soft rush water sedge Western wheatgrass alkali bulrush Wooley sedge sheep fescue beaked sedge three-stamen rush Canada wildrye Nebraska sedge Torrey’s rush Canada bluegrass small-fruited bulrush small-fruited bulrush American mannagrass Baltic rush fowl mannagrass slender rush alkaligrass duck potato tufted hairgrass prairie cordgrass fowl bluegrass American sloughgrass marsh arrowgrass Woody Species black cottonwood peach-leaf willow Booth willow quaking aspen Booth willow yellow willow American plum Bebb willow common chokecherry yellow willow Western serviceberry Pacific willow red-osier dogwood Geyer willow golden currant Douglas hawthorne Wood’s rose American silverberry Canada buffaloberry Notes: 1. Short-term saturation to seasonally flooded conditions. Generally soils are moist to saturated during most of the growing season. Dry soil conditions are common during late summer to early fall. Most of these species represent wet meadow or “drier” wetland margins associated with wetlands and upper streambanks. Herbaceous species can be hand-broadcast seeded. Woody species can be planted from live cuttings and/or containerized nursery stock in the transition areas between uplands and wetlands. 2. Long-term saturation conditions or shallow water perennial plants. These species are normally found in a fluctuating water regime that can be inundated for short periods of time (1 to 3 months). After inundation, soils can dry out for a short period of time (up to one month). Species will be planted from seed, 10-cubic inch material (tubelings), containerized nursery stock, transplants, or native sod. 3. Draw down zone. These species normally require standing water of about 30 to 40 cm (12 to 18 inches) deep. They can tolerate water up to 3 feet deep for limited periods of time. Species will be planted from 10-cubic inch containers. Plant Sources: Herbaceous species will be seeded on streambanks, within wetlands, and on disturbed uplands. Sedge species will be used in areas where soils are inundated or saturated for longer periods of time including the wetland fringe. These species will be planted from native stock (sod) or nursery stock (tubelings). Willow species will also be planted from containerized materials and transplanted from native cuttings. Transitional woody species will be planted from containerized nursery stock in the areas between wetlands and uplands. Planting Details:  Final species selection will depend on availability and hydrologic suitibility.  Water levels ction need to be clearly defined prior to planting.  Wetland herbaceous species such as sedges will be hand planted from 10-cubic inch tubelings in the spring once the risk of frost has passed (typically after May 30th). Live Cuttings, containerized trees and shrubs thrive best if planted while dormant, prior to spring bud break, which is typically mid-May. The optimum time for seeding is prior to May 30 or after October 1. Wetland sod can be harvested and transplanted while the ground is frozen.  Herbaceous wetland species, such as sedge, rushes, and forbs will be planted in staggered rows on 6-inch centers. The number of rows may vary, depending on available soil moisture and the width of the planting area. TABLE A2 STREAMBANK SEED MIX Scientific Name Common Name Pounds/acre (1) Comments Grass Species Agropyron trachycaulum slender wheatgrass 5.0 Establishes easily and quickly. Short-lived. Agropyron riparium “Sodar” streambank wheatgrass 5.0 Strongly rhizomatous. Useful in erosion control. Deschampsia caespitosa tufted hairgrass 2.0 Fast-establishing bunchgrass on both subirrigated and wetland sites. Agropyron smithii “Roseanna” Western wheatgrass 5.0 Establishes quickly and easily on disturbed sites. Good shade tolerance. Glyceria grandis American mannagrass 0.25 Excellent rhizomatous species for streambanks and wetlands. Grass-like Species Juncus tenuis* Slender rush 0.06 Rhizomatous species Total 17.31 PLS (1) Based on a drill-seeding rate of approximately 17.31 pounds PLS (pure live seed) per acre. Rates will be doubled for broadcast seeding. *This species can be planted from 10-cubic inch “tubelings”, if seed is unavailable or cost prohibitive. Factors considered for development of the species list:  Adaptability to saturated and temporarily flooded conditions as well as subirrigated hydrologic regimes;  Ability to establish easily and quickly to facilitate soil stabilization and to deter initial weed and other volunteer species invasions;  Ability to out-compete weeds; and  Enhancement of species diversity and aesthetics. TABLE A3 WETLAND SEED MIX Scientific Name Common Name Pounds/acre (1) Comments Grass species Agropyron trachycaulum slender wheatgrass 5.0 Establishes easily and quickly. Short-lived. Glyceria striata fowl mannagrass 0.5 Excellent rhizomatous species for wetlands. Puccinellia distans “Fults” alkaligrass 0.5 Adapted to moist to saturated soils. Deschampsia caespitosa tufted hairgrass 2.0 Fast-establishing bunchgrass on both subirrigated and wetland sites. Poa palustris fowl bluegrass 0.25 Common wet meadow herbaceous species. Grass-like Species Eleocharis palustris* Creeping spike-rush 0.5 Short, rhizomatous species. Useful in establishing quick cover in riparian areas. Juncus tenuis* Slender rush 0.06 Rhizomatous species. Scripus maritimes* Alkali bulrush 3.0 Rhizomatous grass-like species found in meadows and marshes. Excellent cover for waterfowl. TOTAL 11.81 PLS (1) Based on a drill-seeding rate of 11.81 pounds PLS (pure live seed) per acre. Rates will be doubled for broadcast seeding. * These species can be deleted from the seed mix and replaced with 10-cubic inch “tubelings”, if the seed is unavailable or cost prohibitive, Factors considered for development of the species list:  Adaptability to saturated and temporarily flooded hydrologic regimes;  Ability to establish easily and quickly to facilitate soil stabilization and deter initial weed and other volunteer species invasions;  Ability to out-compete weeds; and  Enhancement of species diversity and aesthetics. TABLE A4 UPLAND SEED MIX Scientific Name Common Name Pounds/acre (1) Comments Grasses Agropyron trachycaulum slender wheatgrass 4.0 Establishes easily and quickly. Rhizomatous species Elymus canadensis Canada wildrye 4.0 Tall bunchgrass. Establishes easily providing quick initial cover on well-drained banks or transition areas. Festuca ovina Covar sheep fescue 1.0 Very drought-tolerant. Long- lived bunchgrass. Agropyron smithii Rosanna Western wheatgrass 4.0 Rhizomatous species Poa compressa Reubens Canada bluegrass 0.5 Useful in restoration of riparian sites. Agropyron riparium Sodar streambank wheatgrass 5.0 Strongly rhizomatous. Useful in erosion control. TOTAL 18.50 PLS (1) Based on a drill-seeding rate of approximately 18.50 pounds PLS (pure live seed) per acre. Rates will be doubled for broadcast seeding. Critical factors considered for development of the species list:  Tolerates a wide variety of soil moisture levels;  Establishes easily and quickly to facilitate soil stabilization and deter initial weed and other volunteer species invasions; and  Reduces weed competition