policy/practice8e site inspection

8/6/2019 Policy/Practice8E Site Inspection

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LTA Standard 8: Evaluating and Selecting 8E: Site InspectionConservation Projects

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Policy:

Wood River Land Trust staff shall physically inspect properties before purchasing or

accepting donations of land or easements. The purposes of a site inspection are: (1) togather information about the property, including its conservation values and potential

threats to such values, boundaries, physical improvements, natural features, and land use

practices; (2) to identify potential problems related to land use, management practices, or

stewardship; and (3) to identify any potential hazards or risks. In the event that weatheror seasonal factors (e.g., snow or flooding) prohibit a thorough site inspection, the Land

Trust shall delay the transaction until the site inspection can be completed.

Site Inspection Process:I. Preparation

The Land Trust shall make substantial effort to conduct the site inspection with thelandowner(s) or someone knowledgeable about the property (e.g., ranch manager, real

estate agent, etc.). This visit is an opportunity for personal contact with the landowner(s)

and to acquire information about the property. Site visits should be scheduled when

weather permits staff to walk and view the entire property. Snow or other conditions thatimpede access to the entire property may prevent opportunities to view important natural

features, physical improvements, or hazards.

Before the site visit, Land Trust staff shall collect information about the property, such as

aerial photographs, parcel data, soil data, and habitat maps. Land Trust staff shall bringthese materials to the site inspection along with plant identification books, binoculars, ameasuring tape, GPS, camera, and compass. During this visit, Land Trust staff may be

choosing locations for photopoints and collecting information on natural and physical

features. Data collection may also occur on subsequent visits.

II. Conducting the Site Inspection

1. The Site Inspection Checklist (Appendix 8E.1) shall be completed during the site

inspection to document information about the property.

2. Inspect key features and property boundaries. If possible, walk the property with

the landowner, who can provide historic information and identify key features.The inspection should document conservation resources, structures, hazardous

natural areas, areas of disturbed land use, etc. Land Trust staff shall inspect

property boundaries to look for potential problems from adjacent land use andfuture boundary identification purposes.

3. Note all water features, including diversion structures, artesian wells, ditches, and

canals. Describe types of use and irrigation systems (pivots, flood irrigation,

Standard 8, Evaluating & Selecting Conservation Projects Site Inspection / Page 1 of 3 / October 4, 2007


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etc.). Describe any ponds and determine if natural or manmade.

4. Document habitat types, plant species of interest and any wildlife observed.Document land use practices and extent of agricultural areas. Describe condition

of agricultural areas and any concerns.

5. Collect GPS data on locations of all existing physical improvements. Include all

existing structures, fences, roads, watering devices, etc. It may be helpful to

measure agricultural structures for ground surface coverage and gross floor areacalculations. If historic structures are present on the property, gather information

about their condition, use, and the surrounding landscape.

6. Collect photopoint information during the initial or a subsequent site visit. Afterwalking the property, choose appropriate locations for photopoints. These should

be locations where physical improvements exist or are likely to exist, where

important natural features (rivers, ponds, etc.) or sensitive areas are visible, and

where large portions of the property can be viewed, usually from higherelevations. Try to capture all habitat types on the property in the photographs.

Locations of photopoints shall be collected by GPS, but choosing locations withlandmarks will aid future monitors in locating photopoints. When taking

photographs, choose azimuths that allow pictures to overlap a small degree. Take

as many pictures as necessary to capture all sections of the property visible from

the photopoint.

7. Additional things to look for during the site inspection:

a. Access. How is the property accessed? Where is the existing access drive to

the building envelope? Does the property have access to a public road? GPS

all roads if possible. If public access is available on the property, where is itand what is the signage? Take photographs if applicable.

b. Type, significance, and condition of resourcessuch as wetlands, forests andother natural areas; agricultural land; presence of specific plant and animal

species; historic or archeological resources; public views; and recreational

potential.

c. Threats to resources, on-site and off-sitesuch as incompatible development

on surrounding lands, harmful runoff, erosion, overgrazing, logging, mining,

or non-indigenous invasive plants or animals.

d. Existing land use and intensity of activityresidential, agricultural, and

recreational, including uses authorized under leases or rental agreements.

e. Visible easements and encumbrancessuch as rights-of-way providing access

for adjacent properties, power lines, railroad tracks, pipelines, water lines, and

mineral exploration.



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f. Safety hazards, both natural and structuralunstable or failing roads, bridges,

buildings, or walls; landslides, fire or electrical hazards, and water hazards;steep cliffs attractive to trespassers and rock climbers; and swimming holes.

g. Public use problemssuch as dumping of household trash, cutting of trees forChristmas trees or cutting of branches for wreath making, use by teenagers for

drinking or drug dealing, and off-road vehicle use.

h. Evidence of hazardous waste problemssuch as dumps, evidence of

underground tanks, bald spots lacking vegetation or where vegetation is dying,

fumes, or evidence of buried waste such as disturbed soil. A more thorough

inspection for hazardous contamination will be needed if the land trustproceeds with the transaction, but such obvious signs of contamination

provide an early warning that the property may have serious problems.

i. Adjacent land usecommercial, industrial or residential development;highways; farming; logging; water control; drainage; or potential hazardous or

toxic waste problems.

III. Follow-up after the Site Inspection

Determine if another site visit is necessary and schedule with the landowner(s). Gather

more information, if necessary, on questionable aspects of the property (land use, waterrights, hazardous materials, public access, improvements, restoration projects). Complete

the Project Selection Checklist and use to draft a Staff Report to the Board.


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