A presentation about implementing ecosystem restoration projects. Presented by Nick Wildman of the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration during the Buzzards Bay Coalition's 2012 Decision Makers Workshop series. Learn more at www.savebuzzardsbay.org/DecisionMakers

1. Making It Happen – The big picture
Practical advice for project implementation
Nick Wildman, Priority Projects Coordinator
Decision Maker Workshop
April 5, 2012

2. In the next few minutes….
• Introduction and Background
• Developing good restoration ideas
(MOST IMPORTANT!)
• Moving ideas to reality
• Preparing for implementation
Fish stocking in Becket
• ‘Show time’
• Discussion
Dam removal in Plymouth

3. Mission: To restore and protect the health and integrity of the Commonwealth's
rivers, wetlands, and watersheds for the benefit of people, fish, and wildlife
Physical restoration projects and...
• Stream flow monitoring and restoration
• Technical assistance
• Adopt-a-Stream
• Outreach / Education
• Trainings
• Policy

4. After
Before
Ox Pasture Brook (Rowley)
Yokum Brook (Becket)

5. N
Photo credit: Town of Plymouth
Photo credit: Commonwealth of Massachusetts

6. How to develop ‘good’ restoration ideas?
How to coordinate an effective approach?
Process-based Restoration1
Understand the site potential
Focus on drivers of ecosystem structure and function
Address root causes of degradation, not symptoms
Tailor actions to nature of impairments
1
See T. Beechie et al (2010). Process-based Principles for Restoring River Ecosystems.
BioScience (60) 3: 209- 222.

7. Moving (Good!) Ideas to Reality
In the simplest terms, it looks like this...
Restoration
Ideas
Restoration
Designs
Implementation

8. Moving Ideas to Reality
In the simplest terms, it looks like this...
Restoration
Ideas
But you need these steps...
Data
collection
and
modeling
Restoration
Designs
Stakeholder
and public
input
Permitting
iterative
Construction
Bid Process
Implementation

9. Six key factors for dam removal success
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Remove full vertical extent of dam
Remove enough of the lateral extent
Restore channel consistent with context
Evaluate and manage sediments
Protect sensitive species
Public safety trumps all
Your Mantra:
Short term disturbance =
long term gain

10. Moving Ideas to Reality
In the simplest terms, it looks like this...
Restoration
Ideas
Restoration
Designs
But you need these steps...
Data
collection
and
modeling
Stakeholder
and public
input
...and raise funding throughout
Fundraising
Fundraising
Monitoring
Fundraising
Construction
Bid Process
Implementation
Permitting

11. Preparing for Implementation
• Are all permits secured?
– Work start notifications and inspections
• Is all funding in order?
– Who is holding the contract?
– Who is issuing the bid?
– Flow of invoices and payments
• Who is doing construction oversight?
– Schedule and reporting

12. Show Time!
• Celebrate – you deserve it
• Contractor communication
– Early problem identification
– Collaboration on solutions (cost implications)
– Who is the “decider”?
• Daily cleanup and erosion control checks
• Safety First
– Maintaining control into work sites
– Limiting risks

13. Implementation Lessons Learned
• Communicate regularly with everyone
– Project team, public, press
• Expect the unexpected
• Document everything
– Change orders, meeting minutes, decisions

14. Implementation Lessons Learned (II)
• End of project = START of restoration
– Restoration relieves stress
– Mother Nature and Father Time
April 2010
Eel River Headwaters
August 2010

15. More information:
MA Division of Ecological Restoration
Nick Wildman
617.626.1527
nick.wildman@state.ma.us
Discussion

16. October 2010

17. December 2010

18. May 2011

20. May 2011

22. What do we DO about it?
• Protect building!
• Monitor