LARE Master Planning and Design Flashcards

The SITES v2 Rating System credits for 'Sustainable Sites' primarily evaluate:

Answer: Site ecology, water, soil, materials, and human health outcomes

SITES v2 awards credits across site ecology, water, soil, materials, human health, and construction to certify sustainable landscape projects.

A landscape architect is designing a bioswale in a master plan. Which design parameter is MOST critical to ensure it functions as intended?

Answer: Longitudinal slope and ponding depth relative to soil infiltration rate

Longitudinal slope controls flow velocity and ponding depth must match soil infiltration capacity to achieve targeted runoff volume reduction.

Which term describes the process of restoring native plant communities to a disturbed site as part of a master plan?

Answer: Revegetation

Revegetation specifically refers to reestablishing plant cover on disturbed land, often using native species to restore ecological function.

An urban heat island mitigation strategy within a master plan would MOST effectively include:

Answer: Expanding tree canopy cover and cool pavement materials

Tree canopy intercepts solar radiation and cools air through evapotranspiration, while cool pavements reduce surface heat absorption.

In a master plan for a coastal site, a 'living shoreline' approach differs from traditional hardened riprap by:

Answer: Incorporating native marsh vegetation and oyster reefs to absorb wave energy naturally

Living shorelines use natural elements like marsh grass and shellfish reefs to dissipate wave energy while providing habitat and maintaining sediment dynamics.

Which ecological concept guides the placement of wildlife corridors in a regional master plan?

Answer: Island biogeography and habitat connectivity

Island biogeography theory demonstrates that connected habitat patches support greater species diversity and allow wildlife movement between reserves.

A master plan's 'green infrastructure' network differs from 'grey infrastructure' primarily because it:

Answer: Employs natural systems to provide services traditionally handled by engineered structures

Green infrastructure uses ecological processes—wetlands, forests, soils—to manage stormwater, filter pollutants, and moderate climate alongside built systems.