Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)

Bureau of Recreation and Conservation (Bureau)

COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM

RIVERS CONSERVATION PLAN (RCP)

GENERAL INFORMATION AND SCOPE OF WORK

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

A.  Before submitting a grant application and developing your scope of work, please contact the Bureau's regional representative for your area of the Commonwealth to discuss your project (a directory of regional representatives can be found in the Application Manual). The regional representative can provide assistance to help develop a scope of work that meets your needs and our requirements.

Grant recipients will be required to address each plan component in a manner agreed upon with the Bureau. The depth and breadth of an applicant's plan will be contingent upon local needs and desired outcomes.

B. Expectations of the Bureau

The Bureau has three main expectations for both the process and the plan. The purpose and scope of work should be developed to ensure that these expectations are met.

1. Substantial citizen involvement/public participation throughout the process.

2. An examination and analysis of all the components of a Rivers Conservation Plan to include local municipalities, an inventory of resources within the watershed and concerns related to implementation strategies.

3. A series of proposed management options (e.g. proposed actions and priorities).

C. Public Participation

Your scope of work must include a public participation process that substantially involves citizens to ensure that local concerns are fully identified and addressed. Special attention should be given to involve adjacent property owners and impacted local municipalities. (Please review the Bureau’s “Public Participation Guide” for specific information.)

Grantees must have an approved public participation process that includes at least a study committee and three public meetings.

D. Study Report Organization and Final Products

The final plan must cover all scope-of-work tasks in a logical order in a bound document, beginning with an executive summary and followed by clearly labeled sections for each of the study’s components.

II. SCOPE OF WORK TASKS

Note: You will be expected to address the major tasks provided below. We do not require you to address every provided sub-task, but to tailor your project scope of work to meet the needs of the watershed. If selected for funding, Bureau staff will assist grantees in finalizing the scope of work.

A. Study Purpose: Establish the “focus” of the Plan

1. Describe why the study is being conducted noting any special or unique concerns.

2. Develop goals of the plan and describe what the plan will accomplish.

3. Provide general mapping of the study area. (See below).

4. Identify any boundaries or limitations of the study.

5. Discuss how the plan will be used in the future.

B. Public Participation

Note: In your scope of work, you will need to identify the consultant’s role.

1. Conduct needed study committee meetings and public meetings with representatives from impacted municipalities, local leaders, neighborhood and community groups and adjacent property owners.

2. Conduct other public participation techniques like surveys of adjacent property owners, key person interviews, etc. as needed.

3. Provide a written summary of the public participation process results.

C. Data Collection and Analysis --- inventory and analyze the following resources:

1. Project Area Characteristics:

a)  Location- geographic location within the state including counties, townships, etc.

b)  Size- watershed area in acres or square miles and length of river

c)  Topography- mountainous, upland, bottomland, wetland, type of cover, etc.

d)  Major Tributaries- names, lengths, etc.

e)  Corridor- drainage area, approximately one mile on either side of river

i.  Land Use- farming, residential, commercial/industrial, etc.

ii.  Zoning- public or private

f)  Social/Economic Profile

i.  Population Centers- proximity to river corridor, trends, etc.

ii.  Transportation Facilities- roads, highways, trails, railroads, airports, terminals, etc.

iii.  Major Sources of Employment- location, size, commercial, industrial, etc.

iv.  Outstanding or Unique Features- river related values, etc.

2. Issues, Concerns, and Constraints:

This section is provided for the purpose of addressing problem areas on a unique and individual basis. Any noteworthy situation not accounted for by other sections of this outline should be included here.

3. Land Resources:

a)  Soil Characteristics- group, type classification, geology, etc.

i.  Limitations/Suitability- erosion, building, drainage, wet, etc.

b)  Ownership (%)- public and private

c)  Critical Areas

d)  Land Fills

e)  Hazard Areas

i.  Waste Sites

ii.  Abandoned Mines- Quarries

iii.  Sinkholes

4. Water Resources:

a)  Major Tributaries- name, length, protected use, confluence points, HQ/EV, etc.

b)  Wetlands- map, characteristics, etc.

c)  Floodplain- map, insurance, problems, etc.

d)  Lakes and Ponds

e)  Water Quality

a.  Point Sources

b.  Non-Point Sources

c.  Monitoring

f)  Water Supply- use of surface and underground, locations, service area, yield, etc.

a.  Public/private

b.  Well Head Protection Areas

5. Biological Resources:

a)  Wildlife

a.  Terrestrial- amphibian, reptile, bird, mammal, etc.

b.  Aquatic- fish, invertebrates, etc.

b.) Vegetation- native, exotic, etc.

c.) PNDI species

d.) Important habitats

6. Cultural Resources:

a)  Recreation Use (demand)- day, night, seasonal, special, etc.

a.  Hiking

b.  Biking

c.  Picnicking

d.  Birdwatching

e.  Organized sports

f.  Scenic enjoyment

g.  Fishing

h.  Boating

i.  Camping, etc.

b)  Recreation Facilities (supply)- private, public, federal, state, local, etc.

a.  Hiking and biking trails (mi)

b.  Picnic tables and group shelters (#)

c.  Sports fields (#)

d.  River access

e.  Boat access

f.  Scenic vistas

g.  Camper and tent sites, etc.

c)  Archaeological/Historical

a.  Sites/Structure/Districts- type, location, age, size, etc.

b.  Importance (recognition)- national register, state significance, local significance, etc.

c.  Ownership (public/private)- security, etc.

d.  Condition

7. Management Options (See Below)

8. Appendices (Include tables, maps and other appropriate graphics)

D. Management Options

Following collection and data analysis, develop Management Options which serve as recommended actions to take for the restoration, maintenance or enhancement of the watershed.

Include goals, objectives and specific projects which can be undertaken in the future. Include options that promote resource awareness and stewardship. These findings need to indicate proposed lead agency or group to undertake the activity.

Provide a cost estimate to implement these options if appropriate.

E. Executive Summary:

An Executive Summary must be developed. It can either be located at the beginning of the plan document or developed as a separate document. This summary should focus primarily on the Management Options for the watershed. Provide to each municipality and watershed association within the watershed for their feedback and approval. Relying on the executive summary will simplify the public participation process and will make the watershed plan more understandable to the general public.

F. Suggested GIS Mapping for Rivers Conservation Plans (RCP):

1. Mapping should relate to the RCP and be identified as such. (i.e. RCP may be part of a larger Greenways Plan)

2. Maps should cover an entire watershed area unless the plan covers only a river corridor as the area of study.

3. The following data bases should be developed and displayed as maps in the GIS:

a)  Base Map that includes roads, railroads, waterways, municipal and watershed boundaries

b)  Hydric Soils, Wetlands, Floodplain Map

c)  Existing Land Use Map

d)  Future Land Use Map

e)  Generalized Soils Map

f)  Existing Zoning Map

g)  Geology Map

h)  Cultural and Historic Resources Map

i)  Open Space and Recreation Map

j)  Management Options/Project Proposals Map

4. The following databases may need to be developed as a map if it is an important characteristic within your study area:

a)  Topography (Slope Map)

b)  Geology (severely eroded areas, karst areas, mined areas)

c)  Agricultural areas (Prime Ag. Soils, Ag. Security areas, Ag. Easements)

d)  Centralized sewer/water areas

e)  Stormwater Management

f)  Critical Areas (Conservation Areas, Conservation easements, location of endangered species)

g)  Woodlands

5. GIS Data Specifications:

a)  We don’t have GIS guidelines and specifications but the following will provide guidance to the grantee in dealing with contractors. GIS data should be:

· Unprojected in Geographic (lat/long) is preferred, but we will accept data in any standard projection; NAD Datum 27 or 83 (83 preferred)

· Compatible with Arc View (decimal degrees)

· Scale of capture 1:24000 (1”=2000’)

· Accuracy of (+) or (-) 25 meters

· Recorded using (Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access or (PASDA) metadata generator (Provide hard copy with data.) Further information at (http://www.pasda.psu.edu/search/metamaker.html)

· Spatial data (coverages) should be in ArcInfo export (.e00) or ArcView shapefile (.shp) format

b) All graphical and tabular data produced as a result of a Rivers Conservation Grant shall become the property of the Commonwealth. One set of computerized data coverages must be sent directly to the Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access (PASDA). (The address is provided below.) A listing of file names and descriptions of computerized data coverages must also be included.

PASDA address: The Pennsylvania State University

130 Land and Water Research Building

University Park, PA 16802-4900

Office: (814)-863-0104

Fax: (814)-865-3378

e-mail:

G. Draft Plan and Executive Summary

A draft plan document and Executive Summary are prepared and submitted for agency and Bureau review. The bureau will review and approve the complete draft plan and executive summary before they are officially adopted by the agency. Typically, the review process consists of reviewing a complete draft plan and executive summary, providing comments and then reviewing the revised drafts to ensure comments are adequately addressed.

H. Final Products

A high quality final plan and executive summary are document are prepared and submitted to the agency and to the Bureau. The final product must be a bound document followed by clearly labeled sections for each of the plan’s components.

All supporting documents and information shall be included in appendices and not in the body of the report. The Bureau requires that four (4) copies of the final plan and final executive summary be submitted to the Bureau. However, the exact number of copies should be determined based on the Grantee’s needs and whether an electronic version of the report is provided.

I. Implementation Project:

Implementation and/or Development projects will typically be consistent with the recommendations (Management Options) contained in the RCP.

Eligibility is contingent upon the studied watershed or river corridor being placed on the PA Rivers Registry. If you want to have your watershed or river corridor placed on the Pennsylvania Rivers Conservation Registry, you must petition our program for listing. Completion of a Rivers Conservation Plan does not insure automatic listing on the registry.

Our program requires that the following support the petition:

· 4 Copies of the Final Watershed or River Corridor Conservation Plan

· 4 Copies of the Executive Summary

· Copies of minutes of Public Meetings

· Copies of notices, as advertised in local newspapers, of all public meetings, workshops and hearings

· Copies of transcripts from the Final Plan Public hearings

· Copy of a letter transmitting the Executive Summary Report and/or the Watershed Conservation Plan to municipalities and watershed organizations for review

· 1 hard copy of maps and supporting documentation for the Plan

· 1 set of Computer disks of tabular and geographic data developed on GIS

· 1 resolution from a municipality within the study area requesting that the area of the studied river or watershed be listed on the Pennsylvania Rivers Registry

J. Contact your Regional Recreation and Parks Advisor for additional information.