In a message dated 10/31/2006 12:18:15 AM Central Standard Time, 
[log in to unmask] writes:
Iowa Native Plants List Serve Members    
        I want to bring to your attention a concern.  You may or may not be 
aware that a concerted effort is being waged to eliminate or severely 
curtail the Iowa DOT’s program to revegetate primary highways with 
prairie.  A campaign has been aimed at applying pressure on the Iowa 
DOT and some Commissioners.  Most of the complaints come from 
landowners adjacent to revegetation projects along two-lane highways.  
Possibly some pressure is also being applied through legislators.  
There seems to be less concern about revegetation projects along 
four-lane highways or prairie plantings associated with new 
construction.
        From my experience at the Tallgrass Prairie Center, I am especially 
concerned about this negative pressure.  As many of you know, I am a 
strong advocate of roadside prairie plantings.  I have personally 
always been proud of the fact that Iowa with its state and county 
programs is the leader in the use of native plants in roadside 
vegetation management.  I was especially impressed six years ago when 
the DOT Commissioners established the goal of revegetating Iowa’s 
primary highways with prairie.  As most of you know, prairie plantings 
are a keystone component of Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management 
programs for weed control, reduction of mowing and reduced use of 
herbicides by spot spraying.  Prairie vegetation increases storm water 
infiltration and helps reduce erosion.  Furthermore, a diverse prairie 
roadside is beautiful, provides roadside habitat, increases safety by 
reducing visual monotony and trapping snow to reduce drifting on 
roadways.
        Those opposing the prairie plantings usually cite one or more of the 
following reasons: 1) Why kill existing grasses, 2) Money could better 
be spent on other highway priorities, 3) Projects create weed problems 
that did not previously exist, 4) NIMBY, 5) Many want to use the 
roadsides for their own use or benefit (i.e. haying), 6) Native plants 
are wild and unruly and potential invaders of adjacent fields, 7) 
Native plants are of no benefit to wildlife.  Certainly some of their 
objections are in error.  Furthermore, they are obviously not 
interested in considering the long-term benefits of roadside prairie 
vegetation.
        Nancy Richardson is the Iowa DOT Director and Commissioners are Suzan 
Boden, Barry Cleaveland, Patricia Crawford, Thomas Hart, Barbara 
MacGregor, Wayne Sawtelle and Don Wiley.  Contact information for the 
Commission is available on the Iowa DOT Commission Webpage.  If you 
feel revegetation of Iowa’s primary highways with native prairie is a 
good idea, I’m sure it would be worthwhile to pass that along to them.
Daryl Smith
    

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