(A) Naturalized landscape letter of credit. A letter of credit is required to cover naturalized landscape improvements and shall include estimated cost of natural landscape installation, monitoring and establishment management. The approved estimate shall be included in the letter of credit (LOC) for the development, which will cover costs associated with earthwork, planting, inspections, and maintenance to achieve village acceptance requirements. The acceptance period is expected to last a minimum of three years.
(B) Naturalized landscape security bond.
(1) A security bond may be provided to cover the expected monitoring and management activities following substantial completion of the installation of an approved landscape improvement plan. The security bond will be held until the landscape is accepted by the village.
(2) Substantial completion means installation of all naturalized landscaped materials, protection netting, and verification of critical grades identified on the approved plan.
(C) Natural landscape specialist prequalification. Naturalized landscapes are to be installed and managed by individuals/companies with qualifications and/or experience with such landscapes. Qualifications are to be provided to the village through submittal of references, photographs, resumes, and/or other means that demonstrate the ability to install and/or manage naturalized landscapes.
(D) Near-term reporting.
(1) The developer is to notify the village a minimum of 24-hours prior to the start of plant installation.
(2) Following substantial completion, the developer is to submit documentation that natural area landscape installation or revegetation has been completed. Nursery packing lists indicating the species and quantities of materials installed are to accompany this notice.
(3) The developer (or a designated representative) is to submit an annual monitoring report to the village by February 28th of the following year evaluating the progress of the naturalized landscape toward design goals. The report shall include the following:
(a) A location map;
(b) Summary of annual monitoring observations, including five to ten photographs representative of at least 20% of each vegetative community to identify the following:
1. The limits of all vegetation areas by general community type and dominant species within each planting zone (e.g., wetland and prairie zones);
2. All plant species (native and non-native) in each planting zone;
3. The five most dominant species within each planting zone;
4. The percent survival of planted species;
5. The approximate percent ground cover by native species within each planting zone;
6. The percent ground cover by non-native or invasive species in each planting zone;
7. Erosion and sedimentation problems;
8. Water level or drainage problems;
9. Areas of bare soil larger than three square-feet; and
10. Observations on specific management strategies necessary to achieve acceptance requirements.
(c) Description of management performed during the year;
(d) Tabular summary of annual progress relative to acceptance standards;
(e) List of recommendations for management during the upcoming year; and
(f) Quarterly observations/inspections of earthen dam embankments, control structures/ spillways.
(F) Long-term reporting. Every five years following village acceptance of the naturalized landscape plantings, the owner of the property shall submit a report to the village on the condition of naturalized landscapes, recommended management actions to correct deficiencies, and a proposed schedule for implementing the recommended actions. Following implementation of corrective actions, documentation is to be provided to the village demonstrating that deficiencies have been corrected.
(G) Naturalized landscape acceptance.
(1) Satisfactory landscape development associated with naturalized vegetation in stormwater facilities or other naturalized areas will be based on the following:
(a) Within three months of seed installation (or three months after the start of the growing season following dormant seeding), at least 90% of the seeded area, as measured by aerial cover, will be vegetated or otherwise stabilized against erosion.
(b) Naturalized landscapes shall not have single areas of more than three square-feet devoid of vegetation, as measured by aerial coverage.
(c) Seeded areas shall have no rills or gullies and basin shorelines shall be adequately protected against erosion.
(d) Areas seeded to turfgrass or low-maintenance turf shall have 95% ground cover.
(e) Emergent areas shall have minimum of 35% ground cover (average 50%) and other wetland and prairie areas shall have a minimum of 35% ground cover (average 60%) by species in the approved plant list and/or native species with native coefficient of conservation (C-) values 2 (per Swink and Wilhelm 1994 or more current version).
(f) Naturalized landscapes shall have a minimum of 30% presence by species seeded or planted for the permanent matrix and/or native species with C- value 2 (per Swink and Wilhelm 1994 or more current version).
(g) Installed woody materials shall be alive, in healthy condition, and representative of the species.
(h) No specific plant community, individual or collective, shall have more than 25% cover of non-native or weedy species.
(i) None of the three most dominant species may be non-native or weedy, including but not limited to Barnyard grass (Echinochloacrus-galli), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), Common reed (Phragmites australis), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), Sandbar willow (Salix interior), or Sweetclover (Melilotus spp.) unless otherwise indicated on the approved planting plan.
(j) Cattails (Typha spp.) do not count towards the 25% weed criterion provided they represent no more than 20% cover.
(Ord. 2341, passed 12-18-06) Penalty, see § 158.99