October, 28, 2009

Comments on Niagara River Riparian Restoration Program proposal

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Participants:  Russell Biss, Natural Resources Supervisor, Kenneth Roblee, Biologist I – Wildlife Region 9, and Mike Wilkinson, Aquatic Biologist , with NYSDEC and Kerri Bentkowski, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper.

Kerri Bentkowski provided an overview of the proposed Niagara River Riparian Restoration, wildlife, fisheries and natural resource experts from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Roblee, and Mr. Biss provided the following comments:

·        Riparian corridor has lost ability to cycle nutrients in some areas due to loss of woody riparian vegetation.  Recommend to include a topic on the importance of leaves and woody material in providing nutrients and beneficial detritus in waterway health.  Landowner education on proper yard waste management is an important topic for trainings.

·        Do not plant ash trees of any species because of concern for emerald ash borer.

·        It is advisable to include shrub and native forbs (herbaceous plant) in planting plans. 

·        Training sessions should include controlling Japanese knotweed.  Landowners may be able to control Japanese knotweed invasion in some areas before it becomes unmanageable.

·        Consider plants that may have a high potential for attracting wildlife habitat, including birds and insects.  Select a diversity of plants that provide opportunities for wildlife viewing in all seasons, especially in winter.  Turkeys, robins, cedar waxwings, mockingbirds, bluebirds and other birds can potentially be observed in cold weather if the right food is available.  Birds such as these will often utilize persistent fruits.  Consider using the NYSDEC Tree and Shrubs Planting in New York 2008 brochure as a guide to determine appropriate plants.  The NYSDEC Saratoga Tree Nursery may be a good source of woody plant materials.    

·        While the landowner agreement provides some protection for long term commitment to the project, a conservation easement is another way to ensure the planting is protected over the years.  Russ, is this actually true?

·        Recommend to consider additional consultation in addition to the technical expertise of Soil Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) in habitat restoration.  Riverkeeper was advised to also consider Natural Resource Conservation Districts in Erie and Niagara counties as a resource.  SWCD and NRDC are housed in the same office and there is likelihood that NRCD can provide some support.  Kerri will contact the NRCD offices in both counties.

·        Landowner stewardship training should expand to educate landowners with existing buffers to help them save the remaining intact buffers that are left along the Niagara River and its tributaries.  The program should increase their awareness of the importance of their riparian buffers.

·        Landowner stewardship training should include education about alternatives to hardened shorelines and bulkheads when site conditions are appropriate for bioengineered or “living shoreline” solutions. 

·        When considering the planting design, homeowners maybe concerned with obstructed views.  Lower profile native grasses, forbs, and shrubs may be an attractive alternative to trees.  There may be potential for incorporating the threatened stiff-leaf goldenrod species by transferring seed to new sites.  It is currently in the Niawanda, Isle View, and East River shoreline of Grand Island areas. 

·        When explaining the benefits of plantings to landowners, spell out the habitat value of each type of plant.  It is not only interesting for landowners to know what types of wildlife they could be attracting, but also this is a potential direct benefit to the landowner.  For landowners this is an opportunity to explore the “if we build it, they will come”  approach to habitat management.

As Riverkeeper proceeds with the establishing the program, the NYS DEC is available to provide guidance on restoration projects and the landowner stewardship education program as time permits.