Making It Happen – The big picture Practical advice for project implementation

Nick Wildman, Priority Projects Coordinator

Decision Maker Workshop

April 5, 2012

In the next few minutes….

• Introduction and Background

• Developing good restoration ideas (MOST IMPORTANT!)

• Moving ideas to reality

• Preparing for implementation

• ‘Show time’

• Discussion

Fish stocking in Becket

Dam removal in Plymouth

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

Yokum Brook (Becket)

Ox Pasture Brook (Rowley)

Bef

ore

After

N

Photo credit: Town of Plymouth

Photo credit: Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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.

Moving (Good!) Ideas to Reality

Restoration

Ideas

Restoration

Designs

Implementation

In the simplest terms, it looks like this...

Moving Ideas to Reality

Restoration

Ideas

Restoration

Designs

Implementation

Stakeholder

and public

input

Permitting

Construction

Bid Process

But you need these steps...

iterative

In the simplest terms, it looks like this...

Data

collection

and

modeling

Six key factors for dam removal success

1. Remove full vertical extent of dam

2. Remove enough of the lateral extent

3. Restore channel consistent with context

4. Evaluate and manage sediments

5. Protect sensitive species

6. Public safety trumps all

Your Mantra:

Short term disturbance =

long term gain

Moving Ideas to Reality

Restoration

Ideas

Restoration

Designs

Implementation

Data

collection

and

modeling

Stakeholder

and public

input Fundraising

Fundraising

Fundraising

Permitting

Construction

Bid Process

Mo

nito

ring

But you need these steps... ...and raise funding throughout In the simplest terms, it looks like this...

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

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

Implementation Lessons Learned

• Communicate regularly with everyone

– Project team, public, press

• Expect the unexpected

• Document everything

– Change orders, meeting minutes, decisions

Implementation Lessons Learned (II)

• End of project = START of restoration

– Restoration relieves stress

– Mother Nature and Father Time

Eel River Headwaters April 2010 August 2010

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

October 2010

December 2010

May 2011

May 2011

What do we DO about it?

• Protect building!

• Monitor