Land Trust for Southeast Louisiana December 12, 2012 Presentation to LDEQ

1. Land Trust for Southeast LouisianaDecember 12, 2012Presentation to LDEQ By using a Green Infrastructure Approach to Conservation --- we are helping manage storm water & nonpoint source pollution on the Tangipahoa and Tchefuncte Rivers Tangipahoa River, CFMS #698378Tchefuncte River, CFMS #698379

2. Our Mission Conserving and protecting valuable natural areas and agricultural lands of southeast Louisiana for current and future generations We work with private landowners and are committed to perpetuity (permanence of conservation actions that we take)

3. The goals of LTSL on the Tangipahoa and Tchefuncte: • Introduce ourselves as a local land conservation organization interested in maintaining healthy communities and waterways – our primary role is to utilize conservation options on private lands • Make friends and develop working relationships and partnerships with landowners and community leaders in order to create and protect riparian buffers • Obtain conservation servitudes along the waterways to create and protect riparian buffers in order to help manage stormwater and nonpoint source pollution and maintain scenic values along rivers

4. Problem: Run-off from storms flowing into streams causing • Erosion • Sedimentation • Fecal Coliform • Mercury

5. Solution: Our grant project activities were related to conservation action using a green infrastructure approach to enhance water quality =native plants and open space reduce the costs of stormwater management and help control non-point source pollution

6. We work within the Land Trust’s mission and conservation toolbox to ▫ Preserve and Protect land in perpetuity ▫ Restore and enhance with native vegetation Along the Tchefuncte and Tangipahoa Rivers, we are working to create & expand riparian buffer zones • using conservation servitudes and • working with landowners to re-vegetate stream banks

7. What we did throughout the grant period (1) Learned project requirements and gained a better understanding of the problem – the sources & effects of contamination Investigated the concept of green infrastructure, specifically those conservation options that the Land Trust could naturally lead or facilitate, within the confines of our toolbox and expertise

8. What we did throughout the grant period (2) For clarification -Our toolbox and expertise includes Conservation servitudes & fee-simple acquisition Restoration and enhancement of riparian buffers Blueway-Greenway mapping (paddle trails that connect people with green hubs (natural areas) Building relationships with private sector and bringing citizens to the table for discussion about water quality and conservation needs

9. What we did throughout the grant period (3) Made contacts with private landowners Became a working part of the Watershed Task Forces on both Tangipahoa and Tchefuncte Introduced the concept of green infrastructure to parish planners & engineers as one affordable solution for stormwater mgt

10. What we did throughout the grant period (4) Participated in local events such as Tchefuncte River Festival, Wetland Day and Earth Day, Kiwanis and Rotary meeting, native plant society meetings

11. Reducing contaminants through conservation actions • Riparian Buffer Zones have the greatest potential to reduce the presence of nutrients (plants use them for food)and sediments (plant roots hold soil in place to control erosion. When possible, leaving nature in place is the most effective and efficient form of stormwater management • Fecal coliform and mercury contamination are not easily addressed through private land conservation. The LPBF is the current, and most likely leader, to work with LDEQ to address those issues. Land Trust will facilitate and follow in this arena outside our expertise and mission

12. Tangipahoa Project Results Along with completed tasks required by the grant funding, we are excited to announce the donation of an 80 acre conservation servitude on the Tangipahoa River near Independence

13. Tangipahoa – Proposed Next Steps (1) Community Outreach: meet with private landowners to discuss conservation options and build relationships with parish and city planners, engineers and elected officials. Discuss importance of land conservation to healthy economy and environment Conservation Mapping & Planning: prioritize actions based on presence of critical/sensitive habitat, ecological functions such as stormwater management as well as scenic and agricultural values.

14. Tangipahoa – Proposed Next Steps (2) A Green Infrastructure Approach to conservation uses waterways & nature trails to connect natural areas (green hubs) to people, hence Blueways & Greenways Skulls Creek Restoration: facilitate, with technical partners and willing landowners, a discussion about a geomorphic study, stream restoration plan and implementation. Assure that stream restoration actions are protected in perpetuity. Use as a model project for other small, degraded streams in region.

15. Tangipahoa – Proposed Next Steps (3) Work with partners to assess, value and monitor the ecological functions of project-acquired conservation servitude on 80 acres near Independence

16. Tchefuncte Project Results Along with completed tasks required by the grant funding, we are excited to announce the donation of a 30 acre conservation servitude at the confluence of the Abita and Tchefuncte Rivers

17. Tchefuncte – Next Steps Three Rivers Blueway: continue with established conversations (mayor, city planner and local paddling club and citizens to interpret, map and post a Blueway (paddling trail) in Covington, Three Rivers area. Purpose of the Blueway: to promote area tourism along with a campaign for cleaner water and scenic wildlife habitats Work with Flowers Estates Residents Association Conservation to fund, plan and implement a streamside restoration zone upstream from the residential area to reduce sedimentation for upstream . Land Trust to work to assure that restoration/enhancement activities are protected in perpetuity.

18. Tchefuncte – Next Steps Flowers Bayou west of Hwy 21: work with conscientious developer who is interested in solving problems with adjacent failed development. Primary need: to re-vegetate and possibly reshape some of the steep slopes. More investigation is needed with technical partners to advise and lead. Land Trust’s role should remain as facilitator and the conservation holder of servitudes to protect the restoration efforts long-term. Work with partners to consider assessing, valuing and monitoring the ecological functions of conservation servitude

19. Questions? For More Information, Contact:(985) 542-5006 Land Trust for Southeast Louisiana P.O. Box 1636Hammond, LA 70404 www.ltsl.org Prepared by Cynthia Ramseur, LTSL Advisor, Natural Capital Development, Ocean Springs, MS 228.282.5000 www.naturalcapitaldevelopment.com