What is a Management Zone?

A management zone is a designated area within a larger landscape that is cared for using specific strategies based on its natural conditions, ecological value, and how people interact with it. Rather than treating the entire greenspace the same way, management zones allow us to work with the land—responding to differences in soil, water, slope, existing vegetation, infrastructure, and community needs.

Primary Purpose

Overall, the purpose of the entire Bob O Link Greenspace is to improve the health of the stream, restore soil health, and support biodiversity and wildlife. Ideally, the entire flood plain the length of Bob O Link would be covered with native species that filter and protect the water, but the space is also a valuable asset to the human neighbors. We have zones that require different actions based on location and natural purpose, impacts of utility right of ways (ROW) and the benefit of community spaces—and each is managed in a way that best supports these purposes. This approach creates clearer expectations for how each area is used and experienced.

"A healthy riparian buffer consists of a diversity of native plants that help protect the waterway as well as its inhabitants." – Heritage Conservancy

The greenspace has 6 management zones, each with their primary focus.

A. Stream & Bank Zone (0–15 feet from water)

This is the highest-priority area.

Primary focus: Riparian & Aquatic health (stabilize banks, provide shade, add woody debris)

Goal: create a living root mat that holds soil together year-round

Focus on plants with:

Deep roots
Flood tolerance
Dense stems
Strong erosion-control value

Native sedges, rushes, willows, dogwoods:

Native Sedges (Carex spp.)
Soft rush (Juncus effusus)
River oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
Blue flag iris (Iris virginica)
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum)
Willow species (Salix spp.)

Other

No mowing except access points
Bioengineered stabilization where erosion is active
Attention to stream habitat
Educational signage

Often Large Trees fulfil this role as their large roots stabilize banks, their tall canopies shade the stream, and woody debris slows flow and protects banks from erosion. In the Bob O Link Greenspace, we cannot use large trees because electrical transmission lines run the length of the stream.

B. Riparian Buffer Zone (15 to 30 feet)

This is the transition between stream and upland. Erosion from cropland accounts for about 38% of sediment entering U.S. waterways, compared to just 5.2% from forests.

Primary focus: Riparian (Filter chemicals and nutrients, reduce sediment), Create wildlife corridors

Goal: Develop a multi-story plant community that shades soil, slows floodwater, and continually adds organic matter.

Multi‑layer planting
wetland herbaceous plants + wet and moist tolerating shrubs + short trees (transmission line runs length of the right stream bank)
Rain gardens to filter stormwater from street drain
Wildlife habitat (birds, bats, etc)
Minimal paths, soft surfaces only
Log seating
Wildlife cameras
Educational signage / outdoor classrooms

***The Riparian Zone along Big Elm Tributary has a transmission line ROW that runs the length of the greenspace. Therefore, large trees cannot be planted in this area.

Riparian Trees - ***cannot use due to ROW

- Sycamore
- River birch
- Black gum
- Swamp white oak
- Hackberry

Riparian Shrubs

Elderberry
Spicebush
Arrowwood viburnum
Dogwoods

Ideal for transmission lines zone 1

Riparian Herbaceous Layer

Wild rye
Joe-Pye weed
Mistflower
Goldenrods
Asters
Native sedges

C. Open Turf Areas (30+ feet from stream)

Meadow & Pollinator Zones (ROW + Upland Turf)

Primary focus: Riparian (Reduce nutrients ad sediment, Disperse runoff), Meadow, Pollinators, Esthetics, Community Use

Goal: Convert 25% of grass to native meadow, pollinator

Reduce mowing while increasing biodiversity.

Ideal for transmission lines zone 1
Native grasses and herbaceous plants
Native warm-season grasses
Low-growing native mixes
Milkweed for Monarchs
Pollinator fields
Wildlife habitat, aka “rabbitat” – small piles of woody debris
Log seating
Educational signage / outdoor classrooms

Year 1–3 Expansion Islands - Prioritize Density Over Variety

Convert small sections to create plant clusters.

Goal is for these patches to expand naturally. This will support lower cost, easier maintenance, and better volunteer success. For example: Don’t plant one sedge every 5 feet; Plant twenty sedges in a colony. Dense plantings will outcompete invasives, stabilize soil faster and protect from erosion sooner.

10 ft × 10 ft native patches
Small tree/shrub groups
Dense clusters

Year 4–10

Expand successful areas.

D. LARGE TREE Zone / Micro Forest (Mid Upland Turf)

Primary focus: Riparian (improve filtration, removing nutrients and sediment, and absorption of water); large trees for shade, biodiversity and wildlife

Goal: Convert 25% of grass to micro forest.

Work with KU to designate areas where large trees, such as sycamore can be planted
Build understory
Reduce mowing area
Trails and shade seating

Ground Cover

Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) – Evergreen cover for small animals.
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) – Early pollinator support.
Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea) – Semi evergreen mat; pollinator favorite.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – Seeds for finches; nectar for butterflies.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) – Bee and hummingbird magnet.

Large Tree Canopy

White Oak (Quercus alba) – Keystone species; acorns feed deer, turkey, squirrels; hosts hundreds of caterpillar species.
Shumard Oak 🌱(Quercus shumardii) – Great for urban soils; heavy mast producer.
Bur Oak 🌱(Quercus macrocarpa) – Excellent for large yards; drought tolerant.
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) – Sap source for early pollinators; seeds feed birds.
Red Maple (Acer rubrum) – Adaptable; early flowers support bees.
Black Cherry 🌱(Prunus serotina) – Fruit magnet for birds; strong nesting canopy.
American Basswood (Tilia americana) – Bee powerhouse; shade tolerant.

Under Story

Eastern Redbud 🌱(Cercis canadensis) – Early nectar source; seeds feed songbirds.
American Hazelnut 🌱(Corylus americana) – Nuts for wildlife; great thicket former.
Spicebush 🌱(Lindera benzoin) – Host plant for spicebush swallowtail; berries for birds.
Blackhaw Viburnum🌱 (Viburnum prunifolium) – Fruit for birds; excellent structure.

E. Wetland (Meander Core)

Primary focus: Riparian (filtration); Biodiversity and Wildlife Habitat

Goal: replace invasives with native species

This area has distribution line running the length.

Invasive removal
Wetland native species installation
Consideration of backyard privacy screening

Shrubs and Small Trees

Pawpaw 🌱(Asimina triloba) – Hosts zebra swallowtail; fruit for mammals.
Elderberry 🌱(Sambucus canadensis) – High wildlife value; thrives in moist soils.
Willow (Salix spp.) – Supports insects; great near water.

Herbaceous

Management Zones