Evaluating Nebraska’s local comprehensive plans to achieve the national wetland conservation missions in the USA

Figures & data

Table 1. Indicators used to evaluate the local comprehensive plans

1) Factual Basis

Resource inventory

Natural or environmental resources described

Conservation areas mapped/described

Environmental sensitive area described

Wetland current status and description

Wetland definition

Wetland maps and classifications

Local wetland types and functionality

Management concepts

Conservation projects/programs

Conservation prioritized in land use development

Conservation lands identified on land use maps/plans

Watershed-based management programs

Human impacts

Water resources related description

Watershed development status

2) Goals and objectives

Goals for no net loss of wetlands

Goals for anti-degradation of wetland resources or/and environmental conditions

Goals for increasing wetland quantity and quality

Goals for ecosystem/biodiversity protection

Environmental sustainability/resilience goals

Manmade/constructed wetlands and wetland restoration

3) Policies, tools, strategies

Land use policies

Future land use and zoning regulations

Zoning policies for specific areas for protection

Low density design standards and building codes for conservation areas

Regulate activities that may disturb wetlands and cause impacts

Prohibit development in environmentally sensitive areas

Subdivision regulations on open space and park lands

Policies on rural character maintaining

Conservation requirements for roads and transportation standard adjustment

Conservation design standards and techniques

Watershed related regulations

Water resource protection regulations

Environmental regulations for natural system protections

Regulations on ecosystem and biodiversity conservation

Regulations for buffer zones

Wetland/water management and restoration

Permitted use for protecting natural systems

Storm water management

Water related best management practices

Land acquisition and incentive strategies

Local tax incentives to support conservation

Mixed use development/low impact development

Development rights related strategies

Clustered development

Density bonuses

Conservation easements

Land acquisition programs for conservation

Financial/economic incentives for conservation

Education and outreach

Conservation education/outreach projects/programs/activities

Natural-setting or field education events/opportunities

Waterfront recreational sites for education/educational facilities

4) Coordination and integration

Links with local approvals with 404 permit and/or 401 certifications/swampbuster/title 117

Coordination with local/state/federal agencies

Coordination with NGOs or environmental organizations/research institutes/participants

Integration with other plans/policies/programs

5) Implementation, monitoring, and updating

Implementation timelines and responsible agencies

Wetland-related task force/committee

Maintenance and updating procedure and development continuum

Tracking plan effectiveness through conservation monitoring programs

Implementation of conservation development techniques/practices

Figure 1. Location map for the cities, counties, and NRDs of Nebraska.

Figure 2. Boxplot of the total scores from the county, city, and NRD comprehensive plans.

Figure 3. The number and percentage of plans mention that do or do not mention wetland conservation.

Figure 4. Boxplot comparison for the received scores among five plan components regarding to wetland conservation efforts.

Table 2. Total mean score and ranking of each indicator

Indicators	Mean Score (scale: 0–2)	Total Ranking (rank:1–56)
Factual Basis
Natural or environmental resources described	1.25	1
Conservation areas mapped/described	1.10	7
Environmental sensitive area described	0.71	23
Wetland current status and description	0.47	40
Wetland definition	0.29	48
Wetland maps and classifications	0.37	46
Local wetland types and functionality	0.36	47
Conservation projects/programs	0.98	12
Conservation prioritized in land use development	0.73	19
Conservation lands identified on land use maps/plans	0.67	27
Watershed-based management programs	0.54	35
Water resources related description	1.08	9
Watershed development status	0.58	31
Goals and objectives
Goals for no net loss of wetlands	0.04	56
Goals for anti-degradation of wetland resources or/and environmental conditions	0.41	44
Goals for increasing wetland quantity and quality	0.68	26
Goals for ecosystem/biodiversity protection	1.12	5
Environmental sustainability/resilience goals	0.78	18
Manmade/constructed wetlands and wetland restoration	0.66	28
Policies, tools, strategies
Future land use and zoning regulations	1.09	8
Zoning policies for specific areas for protection	0.94	14
Low density design standards and building codes for conservation areas	0.59	30
Regulate activities that may disturb wetlands and cause impacts	0.72	21
Prohibit development in environmental sensitive areas	0.98	12
Subdivision regulations on open space and park lands	1.20	2
Policies on rural character maintaining	0.73	19
Conservation requirements for roads and transportation standard adjustment	0.56	33
Conservation design standards and techniques	0.66	28
Water resource protection regulations	1.11	6
Environmental regulations for natural systems protection	1.13	4
Regulations on ecosystem and biodiversity conservation	1.03	10
Regulations for buffer zones	0.70	24
Wetland/water management and restoration	0.82	16
Permitted use protecting natural systems	0.71	22
Storm water management	0.81	17
Water related best management practices	0.42	42
Local tax incentives to support conservation	0.29	48
Mixed use development/low impact development	0.53	36
Development rights related strategies	0.10	54
Clustered development	0.50	37
Density bonuses	0.13	53
Conservation easement	0.54	34
Land acquisition programs for conservation	0.40	45
Financial/economic incentives for conservation	0.42	42
Conservation education/outreach projects/programs/activities	0.58	31
Natural-setting or field education events/opportunities	0.46	41
Waterfront recreational sites for education/educational facilities	0.15	52
Coordination and integration
Links with local approvals with 404 permit and/or 401 certifications/swampbuster/title 117	0.25	51
Coordination with local/state/federal agencies	1.02	11
Coordination with NGOs or environmental organizations/research institutes/participants	0.93	15
Integration with other plans/policies/programs	1.14	3
Implementation, monitoring, and updating
Implementation timelines and responsible agencies	0.50	37
Wetland-related task force/committee	0.09	55
Maintenance and updating procedure and development continuum	0.69	25
Tracking plan effectiveness through conservation monitoring programs	0.49	39
Implementation of conservation development techniques/practices	0.29	48

Figure 5. Percentage of 0, 1, and 2 points in each type of plan regarding to wetland conservation efforts.

Figure 6. The percentage of indicators with 0, 1, or 2 points regarding to wetland conservation efforts.