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Cecil College
One Seahawk Dr
North East, MD, 21901
Bainbridge Campus Habitat Restoration
April 2009
Prepared by: Alexandria Noble
Introduction
In the LEED certification process for new construction guidelines a critical yet frequently over
looked aspect in the construction of new buildings is habitat restoration. According in LEED
certification standards protection and/or restoration is mandatory, under credit 5.1: Site
Development, Protect or Restore Habitat. After careful cost, benefit analysis I have concluded
that the primary focus for the site should be restoring the habitat of four species of butterflies that
are endangered in the state of Maryland, and are specifically at risk in Cecil County. The
intention of the restoration is to restore damaged areas to provide habitat and promote
biodiversity.
Overview
According to the LEED certification standards on previously developed or graded sites, you must
restore or protect a minimum of 50% of the site area (excluding the building footprint) with
native or adapted vegetation. By planting the species of plants that attract the endangered
butterflies, the college will be doing two things: (1) The Bainbridge campus will be providing
habitat to species of concern for the county, and (2) it will be helping to restore biodiversity to a
barren Superfund’s site.
The four species are listed below with required habitats and abundance status:
Table 1.A
Mottled Duskywing
Common Name:
Erynnis martialis
Scientific Name:
Open woodland barrens, open brush fields.
Habitat:
Host Plant Common Name: New Jersey Tea, Red Root, Wild Lilies
Host Plant Scientific Name: Ceanothus americanus , Lachnanthes tinctoria, Lilliaceae
Extirpated in Cecil County
Status:
2
Table 1.B
Common Name:
Giant Swallowtail
Scientific Name:
Habitat:
Host Plant Common Name:
Host Plant Scientific Name:
Papilio cresphontes
Rocky/sandy hillsides near streams or gullies.
Prickly ash, Hop tree, Common rue
Zanthoxylum americanium, Ptelea trifoliate, Ruta
graveolens
In Need of Conservation
Status:
Table 1.C
Common Name:
Scientific Name:
Habitat:
Host Plant Common Name:
Host Plant Scientific Name:
Status:
Chermock’s Mulberry wing
Poanes Massasoit
Fresh water marshes or bogs
Uptight sedge
Carex stricta
Endangered
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Table 1.D
Common Name:
Scientific Name:
Habitat:
Host Plant Common Name:
Host Plant Scientific Name:
Status:
Regal Fritillary
Speyeria idalia
Tall grass, open sites, marshes, and wet fields.
Birdfoot Trefoil, Milkweed, Red clover, Mountain mint
Lotus corniculatus, Asclepias syriaca, Trifolium pretense,
Metnha arvensis
Endangered
During their larval stage, the native plants listed above host the caterpillars. They are key in the
development of the individual caterpillars and important to the survival of the species in the area,
as adults live off the nectar of a variety of flowers, many the same as those needed for the larvae.
Table 2.A:
Name
New Jersey Tea:
Red Root:
Wild Lilies:
Prickly ash:
Hop tree:
Common rue:
Uptight sedge:
Birdfoot Trefoil:
Milkweed:
Red clover:
Mountain mint:
Soil
Acidic
Acidic
Neutral
Basic
Basic
Basic
Acidic
Acidic
Acidic
Acidic
Acidic
Plant Growing Conditions
Light
Full sun to part shade
Full sun to partial shade
Partial Shade
Shaded
All types
Partial shade
Partial shade
Bright
Bright
Partial Shade
Partial Shade
Moisture
Dry to medium
Medium
Minimal
Medium
Moist to dry
Moist to dry
Medium
Medium
Moist
Medium
Moist
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Conclusion
A cost of this project is not readily available at this time. However a list of local suppliers of the
indigenous plants needed can be found in Appendix I. The habitat restoration project relies
heavily on the theory “If you build it they will come.” It is to be done in hopes that if we build a
habitat suitable for a few insects, others will follow, thus creating biodiversity within our
college’s new campus. The community that Cecil will be reestablishing at Bainbridge will be the
first step of our college in preserving the areas around our waterways. The cost of this project
will be minimal in comparison to the gain of the students and environment.
Appendix I: A list of local nurseries carrying native plants
Maryland Native Plant Society
http://www.mdflora.org/events/plantsales.html
Holly Hill Farms: Earleville, MD
410.275.2805
Lower Marlboro Native Plant Nursery: North
301.812.0808
Beach, MD
Maryland Natives Nursery: Perry Hall, MD
410.529.0552
References
"Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping in Maryland." National Park
Service - Experience Your America. 07 Apr. 2009
<http://www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/nativesMD/info.htm>.
Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company,
1989.
Opler, Paul A., Robert Michael Pyle, and Roger Tory Peterson. FG EAST BUTTERFLIES CL
(Peterson Field Guide Series). Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1992.
Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Animals of Maryland. Annapolis: Maryland Natural Heritage
Program Department of Natural of Resources, 1994.
Welcome to the PLANTS Database | USDA PLANTS. 07 Apr. 2009 <http://plants.usda.gov/>.