MODULE #1 Baseline Documentation Report Training Module

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APPENDIX A: BASELINE DOCUMENTATION REPORTTEMPLATE FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROPERTIESThe volume and specificity of information required by the baseline documentationreport will vary depending on the terms of the easement and the conservationobjectives at the site. The intent of this format is to allow flexibility in thedocumentation technique and to correlate the quantity and nature of thedocumentation to the terms of the easement.Title Page: Name of easement property (as the land trust has it filed), date of BDR,author(s) and their affiliations.Purpose of the Baseline Documentation Report: This states the intent of the BDR – todocument the condition of the property at the date the CE is registered. BDR may be used todefend the CE in the event of future violations.Purpose of the Conservation Easement: This sets the stage for the report, andsummarizes the purpose of protecting the property (i.e., significance of the land and theconservation goals). Include a summary of reserved rights and restrictions. Defining theconservation objectives for a property requires consideration of a number of factors suchas:• the ecological values to be protected, including the variety of ecosystems on theproperty, the type and extent of sensitive ecosystems, and unique and sensitiveecological features;• why and how the ecological values are to be protected and for how long;• the motivation of the landowner in protecting the property; and• the conservation priorities of the organization.17Property Background Information:A. Legal description of the property . Description of relevant titleencumbrances (easements, rights-of-way, leases, licenses, water rightsetc.)B. Size of property and /or easement area.C. Location of property and directions from land trust monitoring office.Description of legal access to the land or right of access granted to theland trust.D. Date of site visit.E. Historical information on the donation/acquisition – a briefchronological description of events that led to the protection of theproperty.Location and Physical Setting: General description of the landscape and surrounding area,including adjacent land use.Existing Human Modifications: Provide detailed descriptions, measurements and
locations.A. Existing structures – residences, accessory structures, commercialbuildings, docks/floats/piers, walls, fences, seasonal storage, bridges,boardwalks, aboveground utility lines and corridors, junk/refuse,recreational facilities, aquaculture facilities, etc.B. Existing surface alterations – pipelines, irrigations systems, dikes/dams/ impoundments/ diversions, roads/trails, dugouts/wells, gravelpits/mines, subsurface utilities, septic, waste disposal, etc. within theeasement area.Prior Land Use: Obtain information from the landowner on history of property and its pastland use, if available.Existing Land Use:A. Landowner’s objectives for the property.B. Present land use (agriculture, forest management, wildlife management)along with copies of any existing management plans (e.g., forestry plans,prescribed burning plans, agricultural conservation plans, stewardshipplans, etc.). Obtain copies and include as an Appendix to the BDR ifavailable.C. Zoning on or around the land.D. Adjacent land uses.Natural Features:A. Note any natural heritage areas and element occurrences.B. Note aquatic resources, including location of streams, water bodies andwetlands and general condition of water quality. If property is grazed,logged or is subject to intensive recreational uses, consider assessingriparian health.C. Note terrestrial features, including soils, geology, physiology andclimate.D. Vegetation community types (e.g., native grasslands, wetlands, riparianareas, forests, shrublands, tame forages, cropland etc.) delineated on amap or remote image (If there are rare natural communities, notespecific locations. Note presence of any non-native invasive plantspecies, if known. Note specific locations of both on site maps). Generallists of predominant plants.E. Wildlife species habitat and general species list.F. Species at risk habitat (If there are known species at risk present,identify specific habitat types and locations).G. Note special status of any of the site’s natural features.18Cultural Features: Note any significant archaeological, cultural and/or historical featureson property.Threats: Note any potential impacts to the conservation values from disturbances oractivities on, or adjacent to, the property (e.g., access issues such as from energydevelopment; garbage dumping; stray animals; invasive species; evidence of off highwayvehicle use etc.).
Page 3: GLOSSARYAffirmative obligations - A
Page 6 and 7: WHEN SHOULD THE BDR BE COMPLETED?BD
Page 8 and 9: WHO SHOULD COMPLETE THE BDR?BDRS FO
Page 10 and 11: WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF
Page 12 and 13: When affirmative obligations are ad
Page 14 and 15: HOW SHOULD BASELINE DATA BE COLLECT
Page 16 and 17: WHERE SHOULD THE BDR BE STORED?Land
Page 20 and 21: Monitoring Recommendations: The BDR
Page 22 and 23: General Types of Conservation Easem
Page 28 and 29: Land Use:C. Other ecological or her
Page 30 and 31: TreePlantationBeaverCutting/Floodin
Page 41 and 42: APPENDIX D: SAMPLE BASELINE DOCUMEN
Page 43 and 44: INTRODUCTIONThe East Hays Conservat
Page 45 and 46: historically used for irrigation of
Page 47 and 48: Figure 1.Map showing the location o
Page 49 and 50: East Hayes Management Plan9
Page 51 and 52: i. ACA - Prepare, plant, and mainta
Page 53 and 54: OHV use and access will be permitte
Page 55 and 56: Management PartnersAlberta Conserva
Page 57 and 58: APPENDIX B - IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 20
Page 59 and 60: c. Establish aminimum of 2acres of
Page 61 and 62: c. Install lockedgate at SWaccess.f
Page 63 and 64: shelterbeltlocation)Plant trees ina
Page 65 and 66: d. Install 1 ACAConservationSite at
Page 67 and 68: applicable and ifavailable3. To enh
Page 69 and 70:
Completereferrals andpublic enquiri
Page 71 and 72:
pleasing mannerthroughout 2013.free
Page 73:
(manual,mechanical, orchemical)depe
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MODULE #1 Baseline Documentation Report Training Module

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