General Outline

The volume and specificity of information required by the baseline documentation report (BDR) will vary depending on the terms of the easement and the conservation objectives atthe site. The intent of this format is to allow flexibility in the documentation technique and to correlate the quantity and nature of the documentation to the terms of the easement.

I. Title Page: Title of Easement (as the land trust has it filed), date of BDR surveyors(s) andtheir affiliations.

II. Purpose of the Conservation Easement: This sets the stage for the report, and summarizesthe purpose of protecting the property (i.e., recite conservation values as stated in the easement document). Include a summary of reserved rights and restrictions.

III. Property Background Information:

A. Acreage of property, or acreage of easement area (if different)

B. Directions to property from land trust monitoring office.

C. Note County, US Geological Survey quad, watershed.

D. Note date of site visit (for BDR), and the dates of any updates to BDR.

E. Legal description of the property, property deed/book page and the recording date of the easement.

F. Phase 1 report, if available.

IV. Landowner Information: Names, addresses and phone numbers of landowners (contact information). May also want to include names and phone numbers of any land managers,gatekeepers, etc.

V. Location and Physical Setting: General description of the landscape and surrounding area, including adjacent land use.

VI. Existing Human Modifications: Highlight all structures, roads, trails, dikes andimpoundments, watercourses (ditches), lakes, ponds, wells, fences, utility lines and corridors,cemeteries, dumps, etc. within the easement area.

VII. Prior Land Use: Obtain information from the landowner on history of property and its past land use, if available.

VIII. Existing Land Use and Management Plan:

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, stewardship plans, etc.). Obtain copies and include as an Appendix to the BDR if available.

IX. Natural Features:

A. Note any natural heritage areas and element occurrences.

B. Note aquatic resources, including location of streams, water bodies and wetlands and general condition of water quality. Quality of the streams from a regulatory perspective must be included for EEP easements. Wetlands assessment and description of stream condition are needed for the baseline document.

C. Forest or natural community types (If there are rare natural communities, note specific locations and include a botanical list. Note presence of any exotic plant species, if known. Note specific locations of both on site maps).

D. Rare species habitat (If there are known rare plant species present, identify specific habitat types and locations and include botanical list).

E. Wildlife species habitat and general list.

F. Note major soil types in easement area.

G. Note special status of any of the site’s natural features (i.e. Outstanding Resource Waters).

X. Archeological and Historical Features: Note any significant archeological, cultural and/or historical features on property.

XI. Photographic documentation: This is a photographic record of the protected property that is periodically updated. This section should include photos that are easily replicable (from roads or permanent features, or using GPS waypoints).

A. Photos should be numbered and a compass direction should be included to note the direction the photo was taken.

B. Include a photograph index with descriptions.

C. Include photographs of streamside vegetation, including streambanks and representative riffle and pool sequences. Photograph any problem areas with eroding streambanks on site maps so that they can be relocated easily.

XII. Maps:

A. Photodocumentation map (note location of all photopoints, preferably on a survey)

B. Road map, general location map for directions to property

C. Current aerial photo or orthophoto of property (including boundaries marked)

D. USGS 7.5-minute topo map of property (with boundaries marked)

E. Map identifying major human modifications and improvements

F. Map of easement area within property (if different) or a map highlighting areas with specific restrictions (i.e., riparian buffer areas, rare species habitats)

G. Stand maps or forest type maps, or farm maps, if available

H. Map of natural communities.

I. General soils map.

Signed Copy of Owner Acknowledgement of Condition (Property Condition Certification form): This document acknowledges that the landowner agrees with the BDR and the condition of the property at the time an easement is placed on the property. The document is also used as an exhibit to the Conservation Easement and copies should be signed by the landowner and land trust at closing.