RESTORE
Returning Ecological and Social Function to the Fanwood Nature Center | Fanwood, NJ Keenan Porter | Fanwood Environmental Commission
Project Statement: “Restore” is a project led by Fanwood, New Jersey resident Keenan Porter in partnership with the Fanwood Environmental Commission. It aims to take the currently ecologically degraded and underutilized Fanwood Nature Center (FNC), a small eight-acre plot of protected wilderness in suburban New Jersey. Proposed improvements work to restore the system’s ecology, enhance educational interventions, and create a welcoming place for all to enjoy nature. The project hopes to reveal the educational, social, and ecological values of small sites by highlighting their potential to act as accessible links to the natural world, spaces to rejuvenate, and havens for local wildlife.
Project Narrative: Background The Fanwood Nature Center (FNC) is a small, eight-acre forested plot in the Borough of Fanwood, New Jersey. Historically part of a native oak-chestnut forest, the site has been clearcut, farmed, and developed over the course of centuries before being designated as protected open space in 1974. The fragmented site is overrun with invasive species that coat the understory and is subject to heavy damage from deer browse that have collectively greatly reduced the native understory layer and prevent canopy species from regenerating, resulting in a mostly open and bare system. “Restore” aims to improve this degraded and underused site by restoring its ecologic function, improving accessibility, and expanding its role as an educational space to provide a link to the natural world to residents who might not otherwise have it. Project Goals and Concepts The goals of “Restore” are all connected and driven by concepts with the prefix “re,” meaning again, with the intention of returning conditions or functions to the Fanwood Nature Center that have been lost or reduced. Invasive species are removed, native plants are reintroduced, and canopy species are regenerated in order to facilitate ecological restoration. The construction of deer fencing allows the site to recover after decades of overbrowsing, which brings back lost ecosystem services that allow native animals to reinhabit the system. Site improvements aim to make the FNC a space where people can go to reconnect with nature - something that is not always accessible in suburban areas - as well as to rejuvenate by immersing themselves in a beautiful and serene space away from their stresses. Educational interventions intend to make the FNC into a space where people can go to learn about their natural environment, an original goal of the site that has waned as signage has aged and the site has become overgrown with invasives. Upgraded and expanded informational and interpretive signage reveal the beauty and complexities of their local native ecosystems as well as help visitors recognize the flora and fauna, encouraging engagement with the natural world. Research and Analysis of Plant Communities Initial efforts to restore the Fanwood Nature Center began with analysis of nearby open space systems. This research aimed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the regional plant communities to best determine what communities are present in the FNC. Through direct observation and the review of published lists of plants from surveyed sites, it was estimated what community or communities were present in each site. Regional habitat analysis was compared to a vegetation inventory of the Fanwood Nature Center in order to determine which of the regional plant communities
were present. The findings on-site closely mirrored the results of the regional analysis, and led to the conclusion that Mixed Oak and Piedmont Floodplain communities were present within the FNC, while the five other communities found within the initial surveyed area were not. Based on these results, species that frequently occur in these systems were chosen to be utilized in restoration plantings with the goal of restoring historic ecosystem function. Implementations To-Date Working with the conclusions of the local and regional analysis, a list of plants commonly occurring in Mixed Oak and Piedmont Floodplain communities was created. With funding from an American Water Grant and a Sustainable Jersey Grant, native trees and shrubs were purchased and planted in a oneacre test plot. Surrounded by a temporary deer fence, the test plot will help determine what species grow successfully in the conditions of the Fanwood Nature Center. Aided by a group of volunteers, one hundred and sixty individuals of eighteen different species were planted in the northwest portion of the site along the Robinson Branch Stream, testing predominantly Piedmont Floodplain species. Invasive species removal has been regularly occurring since 2016 and will continue as long as needed in order to create the conditions necessary for native species to reestablish in the understory. Monitoring The establishment of a test plot was the result of several years of research, analysis, planning, design, and field work, but is only the beginning of restoration efforts. Continual monitoring of the survival rate and health of plants within the test plot will inform what species will be planted as part of future expansions. The plants in the test plot have already been established for a full year, and monitoring is beginning to return data. Future Interventions Beyond ecological restoration, “Restore” proposes significant site improvements to make the FNC more welcoming, accessible, and engaging. Additional benches will provide spaces for individuals to relax, rejuvenate, and enjoy nature. Proposed trail expansions will guide visitors through new areas of the site and recreate a historic segment to return access to Terrill Road. Extensions of boardwalks will allow close interaction with delicate ecosystems, revealing flora and fauna that may have been hidden or inaccessible before. Due to there currently being no physical access to the Robinson Branch Stream, a proposed boardwalk offshoot lowers visitors down to water-level. This allows for direct access to the water and the restored riparian ecosystem surrounding it. An overlook at the high point of the site is also proposed to provide a new vantage point for site visitors to view the Fanwood Nature Center. All interventions will be universally accessible, in the hopes of providing access to nature to anyone and everyone who seeks it. The existing educational elements are valuable assets within the FNC, and “Restore” aims to spread them to additional areas of the site. There is already a small collection of labels identifying native plants and animals, which will be greatly expanded to include the plants reintroduced as part of restoration efforts to help site users recognize a more diverse range of flora. Interpretive signage explaining ecological concepts intends to reveal the workings of and foster engagement with local ecosystems, elevating the site from a place for passive recreation to one that can have substantial educational value.
Suburban Wilderness: Surrounded by development on all sides, the FNC is an isolated piece of nature within a dense suburban region. This makes it an especially important space for equitable access to open space.
Brohm Place
Test Plot: Est. June 2019
Interpreti i
Bird Blind
i
Floodpla
i i Edge Habitat Restoration
O Access to Stream
Riparian Restoration
i
i
Floodplain Restoration i
Boardwalk Ex
Robinson Branch Stream Restore Historic Trail Segment i
Ma
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lac
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Access to Terrill Road
Te r
rill
Ro
ad
Site Conditions and Proposed Interventions: Currently ecologically degraded and underused by the public, proposed interventions aim to remove invasive species, restore habitat, expand educational resources, and create a welcoming space to encourage people to spend time in nature.
Scotch Plains
Fanwood
Cr ay
Te r
ra c
e
Utility Right-of-Way
ive Signage
Fanwood Nature Center
Plainfield
ain Restoration
1 mi Deer Fencing
Outdoor Classroom
Entry Gate Upland Restoration i
i i High Point Overlook
xtension
i Edge Habitat Restoration
i i Informational/Interpretive Elements Existing Trails Proposed Trails Existing Features Proposed Interventions 50’ 100’
25’
New York New York
Sussex Passaic
Sussex
Passaic Bergen Bergen Warren
Morris
Warren
25 mi 25 mi
15 mi 15 mi
Hunterdon Hunterdon
Morris
Essex
5 mi 5 mi
Essex
Somerset
Union
Hudson Hudson
Union Borough
of Fanwood Borough of Fanwood
Somerset Middlesex Middlesex
Pennsylvania
Mercer
Monmouth
Pennsylvania
Mercer
Monmouth
Glouchester
Camden
Glouchester
Camden
Burlington
Ocean
Burlington
Ocean
Mixed Oak Mixed Oakhab Most frequently occurring
withinfrequently the surveyed sites. Com Most occurring hab throughout the entiresites. surveyed within the surveyed Com Occurs on athe wide variety of so throughout entire surveyed rock types. Occurs on a wide variety of so rock types.
Salem Salem Atlantic Atlantic Cumberland Cumberland Cape May Cape May
Deleware Deleware
All public open space All public open space Open space within a 25mi radius of the FNC, excluding: Open space within a 25mi • Sites of under 80 acres radius the FNC, excluding: •• Sites Recreation areas (golf under 80 acres playgrounds, •courses, Recreation areas (golfetc.) courses, playgrounds, etc.)
Chestnut Oak Chestnut Oak Chestnut oak is a component
New Jersey types, but iso Chestnut oakforest is a component only dominant on dry, rocky, New Jersey forest types, butan is slopes at high elevations. only dominant on dry, rocky, an slopes at high elevations.
Regional Habitat Research and Analysis: 212 open space systems were surveyed within a 25mile radius of the Fanwood Nature Center to determine local and regional habitat types. This analysis was used to inform what species would be utilized in restoration plantings in the FNC.
bitat type mmon d region. oil and bed-
of many s usually nd infertile
Highlands
Piedmont
Sugar Maple/Mixed Hardwood Occurs throughout the surveyed region, but most common to the north and west of the Fanwood Nature Center. Thrives in the fertile limestone valleys of northern New Jersey.
Hemlock/Mixed Hardwood Prevalent on cool, moist sites including ravines and steep north-facing slopes. The fallen hemlock needles create acidic soil conditions.
Northwest and Piedmont Floodplain Roughly divided between the Highland and Piedmont habitat regions. Located along streams, the site will become inundated when water overflows the banks.
Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak Dominant only on the highest ridge-tops in northern New Jersey, as well as the Pine Barrens in central and southern New Jersey. Grows in thin, dry, and infertile soils that are high in silica.
77% 164/212
34% 70/212
35 73
Mixed Oak
Sugar Maple/Mixed Hardwood
Community is present in the FNC
Community is not present in the FNC
Dominant Species: white oak (Quercus alba), red oak (Quercus rubra), black oak (Quercus velutina). All three species of oak are found within the Fanwood Nature Center.
Dominant Species: sugar maple (Acer saccharum). Sugar maple is present throughout the Fanwood Nature Center, albeit not in a quantity high enough to be dominant.
Chestn
Community is not p
Dominant Species: (Quercus prinus), red rubra).
Red oak is a commo chestnut oak does n
35% 75/212
Piedmont Floodplain Community is present in the FNC Common species: silver maple (Acer saccharinum), red maple (Acer rubrum), pin oak (Quercus palustris), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), others. All of the species listed above are found within the Fanwood Nature Center, as well as several other common species.
Site Habitat Research and Analysis: Based on the ecological communities present within the FNC, plants naturally occurring in mixed oak and Piedmont floodplain communities were chosen to be planted as part of restoration efforts.
5% 3/212
9% 18/212
nut Oak
present in the FNC
chestnut oak d oak (Quercus
on species, however not occur.
6% 14/212
Hemlock/Mixed Hardwood
Pitch Pine/ Scrub Oak
Community is not present in the FNC
Community is not present in the FNC
Dominant Species: Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis).
Dominanat Species: pitch pine (Pinus rigida), scrub oak (Quercus ilicifolia).
Canadian hemlock is not found within the Fanwood Nature Center.
Neither pitch pine nor scrub oak occur in the Fanwood Nature Center.
7% 15/212
Northwest Floodplain Community is not present in the FNC Common species: red maple (Acer rubrum), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), white ash (Fraxinus americana), basswood (Tilia americana), others. Red maple is common , but none of the other species listed above occur within the Fanwood Nature Center.
Remove
Reintro
Competition from invasive species inhibits the growth of many native species from growing within the Fanwood Nature Center, heavily reducing the ecological value of the system. The removal of invasive plants is crucial to the success of restoration plantings, and will be continued as needed in order to prevent reestablishment.
Based on analysis of local a present in local systems bu Nature Center were chosen system. These species inten to the FNC that has been mis
Invasive species within the Fanwood Nature Center include Norway maple (Acer platanoides), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Japanese barberry, (Berberis thunbergii), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), English ivy (Hedera helix), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), periwinkle (Vinca minor), Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda), and others.
Species to be planted as p clude Canadian servicebe sis), river birch (Betula nigr cordiformis), hackberry (Celt (Cephalanthus occidentalis), witch-hazel (Hamamelis virgi cillata), high-bush blueberry (V rowwood viburnum (Viburnum
Steps to Restoration: The initial steps towards ecological restoration include the removal of invasive species, reintroduction of native species, and the regeneration of canopy species to ensure a healthy and complete ecosystem.
oduce
Regenerate
and regional habitats, plants t absent from the Fanwood n to be introduced into the nd to return ecological value ssing for decades.
Due to heavy deer browse and competition from invasive species, the canopy and the sub-canopy of the Fanwood Nature Center are not regrowing at a sustainable level. Deer fencing will give new plantings a greater chance of survival, as well as allow for the regeneration of canopy species to ensure the long-term health of the system.
part of restoration efforts inerry (Amalanchier canadenra), bitternut hickory (Carya tis occidentalis), buttonbush basswood (Tilia americana), niana), winterberry (Ilex vertiVaccinium corymbosum), arm dentatum), and others.
Existing canopy and sub-canopy species include sugar maple (Acer saccharum), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), American holly (Ilex opaca), tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), wild black cherrry (Prunus serotina), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), white oak (Quercus alba), red oak (Quercus rubra), black oak (Quercus velutina), pin oak (Quercus palustris), American elm (Ulmus americana), and others.
Restoration Implemented
Status-Quo Continued
Year 1 Initial removal of invasive plants makes Stiltgrass, knotweed, and other nonroom for native understory plantings. native species characterize the FNC’s forest floor.
Year 25 Lack of damage from deer allows Continued deer browse limits canopy restoration plantings to thrive. regeneration.
Impacts of Restoration: Currently, the Fanwood Nature Center is dominated by invasive species, with minimal native understory plants. With restoration efforts undertaken, the FNC can regain crucial ecosystem services and improve its function as a habitat or risk continual degradation of the system.
Year 5 Continued invasive removal ensures Invasive plants continue to dominate the establishment of plantings. the understory.
Year 50+ Understory plantings are able to self- Few native species establish in the unseed and conopy species regenerate, derstory. Over time, mature trees are creating a healthy ecosystem. lost, leaving the FNC open and bare.
Recover Removing invasive species and reintroducing native species are crucial first steps to the recovery of the Fanwood Nature Center. Deer fencing will eliminate competition that has prevented the growth of native understory plants as well as the regeneration of canopy species for decades, and help new plantings establish.
6’
7’
Ecological Benefits: The reestablishment of native species within the Fanwood Nature Center will help to restore ecological function and provide food and shelter for a greater diversity of species than are currently supported.
Reinhabit As the vegetation of the Fanwood Nature Center recovers, ecosystem services that have been absent will begin to return as well. Reintroduced understory species will bring with them flowers, seeds, and berries to support birds and other wildlife. Nesting boxes, bat houses, and insect hotels provide expanded options for shelter and can help reveal the species present within the ecosystem to site visitors.
Reconnect Surrounded by development on all sides, the Fanwood Nature Center has the potential to be a link to the natural world that may not otherwise be accessible to everyone in the area. Restoration and other site improvements aim to draw in more visitors with the goal of reconnecting people to nature in an increasingly urbanized and digital world.
Health and Social Benefits: Improvements to the FNC extend beyond ecological benefits. The Fanwood Nature Center aims to be a space where people can come to immerse themselves within and reconnect to nature, as well as to relax, rejuvenate, exercise, and socialize.
Rejuvenate A world apart from the stresses of daily life, the Fanwood Nature Center acts as a source of respite to those who visit. Plans to expand universally accessible trails and install additional benches intend to create a space where anyone and everyone can come to relax, rejuvenate, and enjoy nature.
Recognize Restore proposes a significant expansion of informational signage and interpretive elements within the Fanwood Nature Center. Labels identifying native plants and signage explaining ecological concepts intend to help site users recognize the flora and fauna occurring within the FNC, as well as the interactions between them.
5
M Con 1 D
Educational Benefits: Additional improvements to the Fanwood Nature Center include expanded informational interventions and improved trails with the goal of encouraging site visitors to interact with and learn about their local ecosystems.
Kick Rail Decking Joist Beam 5/8” Galvanized Bolt Pin Caps Grade (Install Pier to Midpoint of Deeper) ncrete Diamond Pier 1” Ø Galvanized Pipe riven to Frost Depth
Reveal Proposed trails and improvements to existing trails will bring site users through newly restored areas of the Fanwood Nature Center. Boardwalks will allow close interaction with these delicate ecosystems, revealing flora and fauna that may have been hidden or inaccessible before. Restore aims to foster engagement with the ecosystems of the FNC and, coupled with interpretive and informational elements, hopes to improve the environmental literacy of site users.
Volunteer Invasive Removal: 2016 - Present
Removing Bamboo
Removing Stiltgrass
Invasive Species Removal: Efforts to remove invasive species have been ongoing for several years and will continue as necessary to ensure the establishment of native species. Successful removal of invasives has been made possible by the hard work of dozens of dedicated volunteers.
Learning to Identify Stiltgrass and other Invasive Species
Goats Assisting in Managing Invasive Species: 2015-2017
Trail Improvements: 2016-Present
Canopy Restoration: 2018
Site Improvements: Volunteers have also been crucial to the upkeep and improvement of trail systems, ensuring that the Fanwood Nature Center is safe and accessible. Plantings of canopy species were first implemented in 2018, an initial step to restoring the FNC ecosystem.
Re-mulching Trails
Test Plot Planting: June 2019 Quantity Key Botanical Name
Common Name
Size Comments
5
BN
Betula nigra
River Birch
#7
Multi-stem
4
CF
Cornus florida
Flowering Dogwood
#7
Single leader
4
AC
Amalanchier canadensis
Canadian Serviceberry
#7
Multi-stem
4
NS
Nyssa sylvatica
Black Gum
#7
Single leader
6
SD
Salix discolor
Pussy WIllow
#2
Single leader
6
SN
Salix nigra
Black willow
#2
Single leader
6
IO
Ilex opaca
American Holly
#2
Single leader
4
CO
Celtis occidentalis
Hackberry
#2
Single leader
Trees
Test Plot Plant Schedule
Test Plot Planting: Years of research, planning, and volunteer efforts culminated in the planting of a oneacre test plot. Monitoring of the success of plantings will help determine which species should be utilized in future restoration throughout the entire FNC site.
Deer Fence Installation: June 2019 Quantity Key Botanical Name
Common Name
Size Comments
7
CR
Cornus racemosa
Grey Dogwood
#3
Full branching
7
LB
Lindera benzoin
Spicebush
#2
Full branching
8
RV
Rhododendron viscosum
Swamp Azalea
#2
Full branching
35
CL
Clethra alnifolia
Summersweet
#1
Full branching
18
VD
Viburnum dentatum
Arrowwood Viburnum
#1
Full branching
8
HV
Hamamelis virginiana
Witch-Hazel
#1
Full branching
10
CA
Cornus amomum
Silky Dogwood
#1
Full branching
7
IV
Ilex verticilata
Winterberry
#1
Full branching
15
VC
Vaccinium corymbosum
High-Bush Blueberry
#1
Full branching
5
CE
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Buttonbush
#1
Full branching
Shrubs
Existing Site Conditions: Currently, the Fanwood Nature Center is plagued by invasive species, large tracts of open soil, and minimal native understory species.
More People Visiting
Native Understory Species
Native Herbaceous Plants
Proposed Site Conditions: Restoration efforts aim to turn the FNC from a degraded space into a thriving ecosystem ripe with opportunities for people to relax, socialize, learn, and immerse themselves in nature.
Canopy Regeneration
Spaces to Relax and Rejuvinate Informational Signage
Interactions with Nature