11.14.18 OSBT Study Session Summary EHRNovember 14, 2018
Open Space Board of Trustees Study Session Summary
OSMP Master Plan Ecosystem Health and Resilience Draft Outcomes and Strategies
PRESENT
Open Space Board of Trustees (OSBT) Members: Tom Isaacson, Kevin Bracy Knight, Curt
Brown, Andria Bilich, Karen Hollweg
Staff Members: Dan Burke, Mark Davison, Mark Gershman, Deryn Wagner, John Potter, Brian
Anacker, Steve Armstead, Heather Swanson, Chelsea Taylor
Summary of Discussion: OUTCOMES
• General support for all outcomes with revisions
• Potential revisions
• #1: Consider refocusing on [large] habitats and self-sustaining native populations;
and/or better articulate what we mean by “biodiversity”
• #2: Describe intent to restore both lost/at-risk species and habitats; explore
integration with outcome #3 given that some species will no longer be viable in
the future; should we broaden “invasive species” to “stressors” in general?
• #3: Agreement to keep this a distinct outcome from #2; reference BVCP priorities
but maintain readibility; potential wording – “OSMP system is managed to
increase resilience to climate change and other [anticipated] adverse
impacts/stressors”
• #4: Consider moving to RRSE; refocus on EHR specifically i.e. restoration
activities not recreation/being a steward/intentions that can be better measured;
but don’t lose intention to share conditions/trends about OSMP and teach
visitors/residents about the system, supporting and demonstrating stewardship
• Consider adding a 5th outcome regarding science-based/data-driven management
• Important to do more science on the system, but consider whether this is more of
a strategy and/or whether the language needs to be more aspirational – could be a
meta principle, using science not just doing it
Summary of Discussion: STRATEGIES
• General support for preliminary strategies, with some additions or refinements to:
• A: consider refocusing on better understanding what actually fragments or
stresses species/habitats and managing for that; consider need for better strategies
outside grassland planning area; consider “strategically increasing” block size or
“where necessary for betterment of species/habitat”; broaden to include
acquisitions and other tools to achieve this; but don’t lose basic ecosystem
principles; it’s about quality AND amount of habitat
• B: don’t set up expectations that we’ll restore all degraded areas; include common
native species, not just unique/rare; include the word “conservation”; could be
supported by a diverse set of actions; focusing on declining species populations;
reducing impacts and conversation actions – could separate these two sides of the
coin (i.e. threat abatement versus restoration)
• C: general support for minor improvements suggested by Curt/Karen
• D: maintain clarity for staff about where we can get most bang for our buck (i.e.
most likely to be controlled), revise to “ . . . severe and/or widespread impact,
particularly those most likely to be controlled”
• E: explore distinctions between internal/external changes (in light of strategy B)
and adaptation/mitigation; add minimizing our own carbon footprint to be good
ecocitizens; remove “ongoing and future” phrase; integrate with citywide efforts;
consider a different word rather than “tools”; reference all external impacts other
than climate in another strategy?; reduction in biodiversity
• F: add the “why” (maybe elsewhere, too?); “Support ecological research . . .”; say
more about information sharing (trends) and transparency with the public; help
staff understand where to allocate capacity to achieve this
• Add another concept: Prioritization of species protection to maximize bang for
the buck (“triage”); assessing benefit/feasibility/cost; this concept applies to all
focus areas as an operating principle/good practice; reference language like this
from other plans; help the public understand we can’t do it all (i.e.
risk/vulnerability assessment)
Summary of Discussion: NEXT STEPS
• Explore and propose revisions
• With guidance from process committee, return to OSBT in early 2019 to affirm
refinements and integration across focus areas
Summary of Discussion: OTHER
• Andria Bilich:
• Concerned about going too far into affirming outcomes and strategies
before whole window of engagement is closed. Later conversations about
other focus areas will inform changes to EHR, for example.
• Staff will return to OSBT in early 2019 to discuss further
revisions/integration
• Will include cross-walking/integration at that point