facilities renewal master plan - National Zoo - Smithsonian Institution

FACILITIES MASTER PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
previously disturbed and developed land areas of the National Zoo would impact current
landscaping, which would be replaced in the context of the new facilities and exhibits,
and so adverse impacts would be negligible to minor. Construction activities requiring
land clearing of trees and shrubs in undeveloped areas would cause site-specific, minor to
moderate impacts to vegetation. Similar to past activities at the National Zoo, SI would
use tree protection measures to the extent practicable to save larger tree specimens that
are indigenous to Rock Creek and the surrounding area.
Activities that could potentially impact vegetation under Alternative B include:
Reclamation of Parking Lot A and the Bus Lot for creation of new large multispecies
exhibit areas;
New Beaver Valley exhibits and walkways;
Revitalization of entrance at Connecticut Avenue;
Construction of a two-story underground parking structure at the Connecticut
Avenue entrance;
Addition of two new traffic circles on North Road;
Construction of a new service road from Amazonia Science Gallery to Bird Hill;
The construction of a new administrative, support and operations hub near the
Parking Lot C site; and
Additions to research buildings near the hospital, and a new greenhouse.
Parking Lot A and the Bus Lot would be reclaimed for the construction of new animal
exhibit areas in order to enhance visitor experience. Older exhibit areas would be
revitalized, creating five new, large multi-species habitat and exhibit area located
throughout the park. The larger exhibit areas would further support the National Zoo in
providing the highest quality animal care and management. Some localized minor
vegetation disturbance would occur during construction. Native vegetation would
replace exotic or invasive species in the new visitor area. Any exotic species planted in
the animal habitats would be non-invasive. This would result in an overall beneficial
impact to park vegetation. Collection planning for animal exhibits at the National Zoo is
a separate process from the master planning process.
Revitalization of the Connecticut Avenue entrance would have impacts to both landscape
and native vegetation that exist at the entrance. Native vegetation would be replanted
within the construction zone, and overall impacts to vegetation would be localized and
minor.
Revitalization of older exhibit areas and walkways in Beaver Valley would potentially
disturb existing landscaping. Invasive species currently present at this site would be
replaced with native species in the visitor areas, and native and non-invasive exotic
species would be planted in the revitalized habitat areas. This would result in beneficial
impacts to vegetation.
The addition of two new traffic circles on North Road would require clearing and minor
earth disturbance that could potentially impact landscaping, resulting in site-specific
minor impacts to vegetation, limited to the immediate construction areas.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION – NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK 48 | P a g e