Little Habitat Project Certification

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Little Habitat Certification

Small spaces, big benefits: creating community and connectivity for wildlife.

The Little Habitat Project serves residents in developed areas, includes benefits for the participants and ecosystem, and offers three certification levels:

Level I: Acorn

Level II: Seedling

Level III: Oak

Certify at lowest level satisfied and take more actions to move up.

Project participant is advised that information obtained by the MSWCD during an assessment may be subject to disclosure under the public records act or the freedom of information act, where applicable.

Name

First Last

Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Phone

Property Type

How would you describe your project site?

Private yard or garden

Townhome/Apartment/Condo

HOA Common Area

Assisted Living Center

Schoolyard/ University/Community College

Public park

Municipal Building

Place of worship

Cemetery

Other

Square footage of project area

Your project can be any size – certify anything from a patio garden to a shared greenspace. Please share the square footage of your Little Habitat Project area.

Photo Release*

This form provides opportunities to upload images documenting aspects of your project. By submitting your photo, you allow use by Marion Soil & Water Conservation District (MSWCD) and allow MSWCD to reproduce the image free of charge for the MSWCD website, social media, publications, and related publicity material, and the right to include your name in association with the image.

Agree

Decline

Certification Components

We’ve organized the practices that support wildlife into five main categories:

– Soil
– Water
– Plants
– Infrastructure
– Education

Use this form to document the actions you have completed.

Soil

Improving soil quality and health can help with soil structure, reduce erosion, increase fertility and water holding capacity, suppress weeds, reduce compaction, promote soil microbial activity, and support beneficial insects.

Acorn (Level I): Choose One Action Item

Seedling (Level II): Choose Two Action Items

Oak (Level III): Choose Three or More Action Items

1a. Soil practices

Soil practices revolve around creating organic amendments and adding organic matter. Click on all that you implement.

Add compost from off-site

Leave the leaves or add leaf litter.

Plant cover crops.

Add wood chips.

Create and maintain a compost pile.

Create and maintain a vermicompost bin.

Pick up and dispose of pet waste in the trash.

1b. Describe soil practices implemented.

1c. Upload Images of Soil Practices

If you are opting out of a site visit or for projects completed after your site visit, upload photos of selected soil practices here. Maximum file size is 512 MB.

Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf, Max. file size: 512 MB.

Water

Creating water sources, conserving water, and enhancing water quality are different options to help wildlife and reduce stormwater runoff. Stormwater is water that originates from precipitation and flows over land, roads, and other surfaces, eventually making its way into rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. Proper management of stormwater is essential to protect our natural environment and prevent flooding and erosion.

Levels

Acorn (Level I): Choose One Action Item

Seedling (Level II): Choose Two Action Items

Oak (Level III): Choose Three or More Action Items

1a. Water practices

Water practices revolve around creating water sources, conserving water, and managing water quality.

Install and maintain a wildlife water feature (birdbath, bubbler…)

Install and maintain puddling area.

Create and maintain garden pond.

Eliminate lawn watering.

Disconnect downspouts (where appropriate).

Install a rain garden, bioswale, or stormwater planter.

Improve irrigation efficiency.

Use permeable walkways (mulch, pavers, stones, etc).

1b. Water Practice Maintenance

First, describe how you are maintaining your water features, puddling areas, and/or garden ponds. Second, describe your water use practices.

1c. Upload Images of Water Practices

If you are opting out of a site visit or for projects completed after your site visit, upload photos of selected water practices here. Maximum file size is 512 MB.

Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf, Max. file size: 512 MB.

Plants

Plants are central to the Little Habitat Project. We recommend that project sites have at least 70% native plants for the greatest wildlife benefits.

The plants section has four action areas:

– Manage Noxious Invasive Plants
– Provide Vegetation Layers
– Incorporate Native Plants
– Add Plant Practices

1a. Invasive Plants

Required for all levels: Actively manage all invasive weeds in your designated Little Habitat Project area.

Actively manage noxious invasive plants. Revisit every season. Select most effective, lowest risk approach (manual, mechanical, cultural, chemical…).

Minimize the use of pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and rodenticides) and look for alternatives.

If using pesticides, understand: when to apply, how to apply, how to interpret label directions, and how to calculate mixing and application rates.

1b. Describe your invasive plant management practices.*

What is your plan for actively managing pests and invasive weeds? Can you describe the timing and techniques you will use for pest/weed control?

1c. Upload Images of Noxious Invasive Plant Absence/Removal

If you are opting out of a site visit, or for projects completed after your site visit, upload photos documenting absence or removal of invasives. Maximum file size is 512 MB.

Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf, Max. file size: 512 MB.

2a. Vegetation Layers

A healthy habitat incorporates multiple vertical layers because each layer provides different services within the habitat.

Acorn (Level I): at least 1 layer.

Seedling (Level II): at least 2 layers.

Oak (Level III): at least 3 layers.

Tall tree layer.

Understory tree layer.

Shrub layer.

Herbaceous layer.

2b. Upload Images of Vegetation Layers.

If you are opting out of a site visit or for projects completed after your site visit, upload photos of Little Habitat area showing vegetation layers. Maximum file size is 512 MB.

Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf, Max. file size: 512 MB.

3. INCORPORATE NATIVE PLANTS*

*Native to the Willamette Valley and neighboring ecoregions.

3a. Number of Native Plant Species

8+ Species

16+ Species

24+ Species

3b. List the different native plant species present.

3c. Upload Image of Native Plants

If you are opting out of a site visit or for projects completed after your site visit, upload photos of Little Habitat area showing native plants. Maximum file size is 512 MB.

Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf, Max. file size: 512 MB.

4a. Plant Practices

Acorn (Level I): add at least 8 of these plant practices.

Seedling (Level II): add at least 18 of these plant practices.

Oak (Level III): add at least 24 of these plant practices.

Provide resources for a focus species.

Leave dead stems and seed heads over winter.

Add evergreen plants for winter cover.

Create a wildlife corridor with a neighbor.

Replace low-value ornamental plants.

Plant densely.

Plant drought-tolerant native plants.

Provide native spring-blooming plants.

Provide native summer-blooming plants.

Provide native fall-blooming plants.

Provide late winter-blooming plants.

Add caterpillar host plants.

Plant at least 5 different flower colors.

Plant big patches of each species.

Plant a new native tree.

Plant fruit-producing plants.

Install a native hedgerow.

Retain a snag or nurse log.

Create a brush pile.

Shade impervious surfaces.

Prune plants to provide hollow stems.

Reduce the area of lawn.

Reduce mowing frequency.

Leave areas un-mowed.

Plant a bee-friendly lawn.

Plant a native wildflower meadow.

Plant native ground covers.

Include understory plants.

4b. Describe plant practices implemented.

4c. Upload Images of Plant Practices

If you are opting out of a site visit or for projects completed after your site visit, upload photos of Little Habitat area showing plant practices. Maximum file size is 512 MB.

Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf, Max. file size: 512 MB.

Infrastructure

Built habitat elements can benefit wildlife.

Acorn (Level I): Choose 1 Action Item

Seedling (Level II): Choose 2 Action Items

Oak (Level III): Choose At Least 3 Action Items

1a. Infrastructure Options

Add and maintain bird or bat nesting boxes.

Add and maintain mason bee or leaf cutter bee houses.

Add and maintain a bird feeder.

Create habitat rock pile(s) for reptiles and amphibians.

Install a catio.

Install motion detector lights year-round.

Install bird deterrents for windows.

Use permeable walkways (mulch, pavers, stones, etc.).

1b. Description of infrastructure maintenance

First, describe how you are maintaining your bird/bat nest boxes, bee houses, and/or bird feeders. Second, describe the infrastructure actions implemented.

1c. Upload Images of Infrastructure

If you are opting out of a site visit or for projects completed after your site visit, upload photos of Little Habitat area showing infrastructure options. Maximum file size is 512 MB.

Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf, Max. file size: 512 MB.

Education

Part of supporting wildlife in urban and residential areas is recruiting more community members to develop their own habitats. Help spread the word and extend the impact of your actions by educating your friends and neighbors on how to do the same.

Acorn (Level I): Choose One Action Item

Seedling (Level II): Choose Two Action Items

Oak (Level III): Choose Three or More Action Items

1a. Education and Outreach Actions

Participate in a community science project like iNaturalist challenges, Backyard Bird Counts, Bumblebee Watch, Oregon Season Trackers and other opportunities.

Attend or host community education events through Marion SWCD, Master Gardeners, Native Plant Society, Audubon Society, Oregon Master Naturalists, and others.

Write a blog post about your Little Habitat or related topic for Marion SWCD.

Recruit two new Little Habitat Project participants.

Teach your neighbors about habitat.

Volunteer in support of wildlife habitat for organizations or parks that are helping to improve wildlife habitat.

Other (describe in 1b).

1b. Describe Education and Outreach Actions

What community science projects, continuing education opportunities, and/or volunteer efforts have you participated in during the past year?

List the practices you have newly implemented since joining the The Little Habitat Project.

Applicants: Scroll to bottom of page and click "Next."

Administrative Comments:

Certification Level

For administrator only.

Level I – Acorn

Level II – Seedling

Level III – Oak

Date

For administrator only.

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Applicants: Click "Next" to submit your form.

Thank you for supporting wildlife habitat!

Comments

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Little Habitat Project Certification