Section 10-A607. E-1.5 SUSTAINING URBAN PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE

 

607.1At the time of initial European settlement, the District of Columbia was home to species as diverse as buffalo, bear, elk, otter, and bobcat. While these animals disappeared from the local landscape decades ago, the District continues to provide habitat for hundreds of species of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and invertebrates. Opossum, raccoon, red and gray foxes, and white tailed deer have adapted to human activities and are not uncommon. Much of the biodiversity can be attributed to open spaces along Rock Creek and the two rivers. However, the importance of the city’s parks, cemeteries, street trees, institutional lands, and backyards to wildlife cannot be understated. 607.1

 

607.2Pursuant to federal law, the Fisheries and Wildlife Division of the District Department of Health prepared a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy in 2005. The Strategy, which was prepared in partnership with local wildlife agencies and organizations as well as the public, is an action plan for conserving wildlife and wildlife habitats over the next ten years. It lists the species in the city with the greatest conservation needs, describes specific terrestrial and aquatic wildlife threats, and identifies priority locations for conservation. As an urban area, the District bears a high degree of responsibility for conserving urban species, some of which may be threatened or endangered. 607.2

 

607.3Policy E-1.5.1: Habitat Restoration

 

Encourage interagency efforts to restore native habitat along the District’s rivers, streams, and woodlands, and public-private partnerships to recreate native habitat within the city. 607.3

 

607.4Policy E-1.5.2: Protected and Rare Species

 

As required by the federal Endangered Species Act, protect endangered, threatened, and other special status species from the adverse effects of construction and development. 607.4

 

607.5Policy E-1.5.3: Habitat Management on Private Land

 

Encourage environmentally sound landscaping and gardening techniques by DC homeowners and institutional landowners to maximize the habitat value of privately owned land. Such techniques should include reduction of herbicide and pesticide use; the selection of disease, drought-resistant, and native species; the removal of invasive plants; the use of rain gardens to reduce urban runoff; and landscaping that provides food and cover for wildlife. 607.5

 

607.6Action E-1.5.A: Implementation of the Wildlife Conservation Plan

 

Implement the 2005 Wildlife Management Plan for the District of Columbia, including programs to control the white-tailed deer and Canada goose population, and to improve water quality and habitat in the Anacostia River. 607.6

 

607.7Action E-1.5.B: Data Improvements

 

Improve the collection and monitoring of data on plant and animal life within the District, particularly data on rare, endangered, threatened, and candidate species, and species of greatest conservation need.

 

notation

The provisions of Title 10, Part A of the DCMR accessible through this web interface are codification of the District Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. As such, they do not represent the organic provisions adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The official version of the District Elements only appears as a hard copy volume of Title 10, Part A published pursuant to section 9a of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1994, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1 -301.66)) . In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions accessible through this site and the provisions contained in the published version of Title 10, Part A, the provisions contained in the published version govern. A copy of the published District Elements is available www.planning.dc.gov.