Section IV

Stewardship Issues

Process

Issues

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This chapter is to be completed at a later date under Sweet Water Trust grant.  The following is a preliminary outline of the possible issues.

Stewardship is a vital aspect of protecting biodiversity in the Watershed.  Once the land is protected, the land will still need to be managed.  Also, public and private land that is not permanently protected for conservation reasons can be managed to protect habitat.  This chapter will emphasize the most important management issues.

Process

1. Determine the ownership of Biodiversity Sites and make a preliminary assessment of stewardship issues

2. Conduct an informal questionnaire with appropriate owners and natural area managers to determine what they think are the most important stewardship issues in the SuAsCo

3. Research solutions by interviewing land managers, foresters, farmers, and conservation professionals in the region and state and by conducting literature and internet searches for additional information

4. Compile specific guidelines and sources to help landowners manage their lands to benefit biodiversity

Issues

A. Overarching issues:

• Water quality and quantity of streams, rivers, wetlands, and waterbodies

• Exotic species - invasive plants, pets, and invasive animals, such as swans

• Native “pests” - deer, beaver, poison ivy

• Golf courses

• Management rights-of-way, such as utilities, railroads, aqueducts, which often serve as wildlife corridors

B. Protected conservation land issues:

• Trail design to protect biodiversity

• Incompatible types of public use including dog walking, ORVs, mountain bikes

• Successional habitat management:

  • Mowing regimes in grassland areas to benefit grassland birds and invertebrates.

  • Maintenance of wet meadow habitats

  • Forestry practices to maximize potential for “old growth cores” and interior sensitive species, as well as other Focal Species.

  • Successional shrub/scrub management techniques

  • Fire management of pitch pine habitat and little bluestem grasslands

C. Corridors and Buffers:

• Density and types of development: zoning, large houses, extensive clearing

• Road construction, culverts, and barriers

• Pesticides and herbicides in lawns, ballfields, roadways, etc.

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