onondaga earth corps - green infrastructure maintenance
TRANSCRIPT
www.onondagaearthcorps.org
In the field: Success & Challenges with GI
MaintenanceMaintenance
October 23, 2014S C t f E ll
Civilian Conservation CorpsCivilian Conservation Corps
Youth ProgramYouth Program– 15-18 year olds– Employed in summer & after school spring, fall
Young Adult ProgramYoung Adult Program– 19-25 year olds– Community Based Tree Planting– Green Infrastructure Maintenance
OEC Green Infrastructurei iMaintenance History
• Rain garden installations in Skaneateles Rain garden installations in Skaneateles 2008
• Rain garden installation at 515 Tully 2009• Rain garden installation at 515 Tully 2009• Pilot community-based, youth GI
i i maintenance at 4 sites 2011-2012 • Expand GI maintenance to 11 sites 2013 • Expand GI maintenance to 13 sites 2014• Over 3300 hours in the fieldOver 3300 hours in the field
515 Tully515 Tully
Bishop FoeryBishop Foery
• Community Center– Staff engagement– Staff engagement– OEC youth outreach– OEI GI Training
City Lot #3 2011City Lot #3 2011
/6/ / /10/6/2011 10/13/2011
City Lot #3 2011-2013City Lot #3 2011 2013
Old Farmers Market Lot 2011Old Farmers Market Lot 2011
6/ / 6/ /6/5/2013 6/21/2013
St Lucy’s 2013St. Lucy s 2013
6/ / 6/ /6/5/2013 6/21/2013
St Lucy’sSt. Lucy s
6/ / / /6/13/2014 10/10/2014
St Lucy’sSt. Lucy s
• OEC called in as emergency measureOEC called in as emergency measure• Garden brought under control
Off i l d/ k i h • Offer to train volunteers and/or work with them to reduce costs and add valuable
iexpertise• Struggling with volunteer
organization/participation• OEC called in again as emergency measureg g y
Things to considerThings to consider
• Know your site!Know your site!• Know your resources!
B i• Be creative• Communicate about maintenance with
relevant parties• Many mow their lawns once a week or y
every few weeks – the best kept gardens get ongoing attentiong g g
2013Grand and DelawareBefore OECMaintenance
2013 Grand and Delaware Before OECBefore OEC Maintenance
2013 Grand and Delaware After OEC e O C
Maintenance
2013 Grand and Delaware After OEC
Maintenance
Crew of 2013Crew of 2013
Lessons LearntLessons Learnt
• Rain gardens that are left without regular Rain gardens that are left without regular maintenance allow invasive weeds to mature and dominate the garden mature and dominate the garden.
• Little to no maintenance will potentially defeat the purpose of the rain garden defeat the purpose of the rain garden operation.GI i S h l • GI resources in Syracuse can help you get the job done.
Solution and ResultsSolution and Results
• Maintenance should be performed regularly soMaintenance should be performed regularly, so in 2014 maintenance at this location was from April-SeptemberApril-September.
• There were 280 total labor hours with a crew of 5 spent to maintain this particular gardenof 5 spent to maintain this particular garden.
• The garden was primarily maintained by di d li /d b i i kweeding and litter/debris pickup.
2014 Spring2014 Spring
2014 Spring2014 Spring
2014 Early Summer2014 Early Summer
Crew WorkingCrew Working
2014 Late Summer2014 Late Summer
2014 Late Summer2014 Late Summer
Crew Member MomentCrew Member Moment
Results from 2014Results from 2014
• An early start was important to maintain An early start was important to maintain the rain garden.
• A regular and continuing maintenance A regular and continuing maintenance schedule made maintenance effective and system operable while possibly saving long y p p y g gterm cost from repairs.
• The community and youth develop a better y y psense of the importance of GI Maintenance.
2013 vs. 2014 @ Grand & lDelaware
2013• July 26 – Aug 4• 122 Labor Hours
2014• April – Sept• 280 Labor Hours• 122 Labor Hours
• 24 Crew Hours• 280 Labor Hours• 56 Crew Hours
Tips for MaintenanceTips for Maintenance
• Water to promote plant growth and survival, Water to promote plant growth and survival, especially during the first two years and during dry spells.
• Inspect rain garden for dead or dying vegetation.• Regularly removing sediment that has g y g
accumulated.• Inspect site following rainfall events. • Add/replace vegetation in any eroded areas.
Tips for MaintenanceTips for Maintenance
• Prune and weed rain garden to maintain Prune and weed rain garden to maintain appearance.
• Remove accumulated trash and debris.
• Replace mulch as needed.
• **** This should be done regularly****
www.onondagaearthcorps.org
Gregory Michel – [email protected] Rivers – [email protected]
315-565-3797