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Date:         Tue, 31 Oct 2006 00:14:12 -0600
Reply-To: Daryl Smith <[log in to unmask]>
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From: Daryl Smith <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [IOWA-NATIVE-PLANTS] Iowa DOT revegetation project
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Iowa Native Plants List Serve Members  =20
        I want to bring to your attention a concern.  You may or may not be=20
aware that a concerted effort is being waged to eliminate or severely=20
curtail the Iowa DOT=92s program to revegetate primary highways with=20
prairie.  A campaign has been aimed at applying pressure on the Iowa=20
DOT and some Commissioners.  Most of the complaints come from=20
landowners adjacent to revegetation projects along two-lane highways. =20
Possibly some pressure is also being applied through legislators. =20
There seems to be less concern about revegetation projects along=20
four-lane highways or prairie plantings associated with new=20
construction.
        From my experience at the Tallgrass Prairie Center, I am especially=20
concerned about this negative pressure.  As many of you know, I am a=20
strong advocate of roadside prairie plantings.  I have personally=20
always been proud of the fact that Iowa with its state and county=20
programs is the leader in the use of native plants in roadside=20
vegetation management.  I was especially impressed six years ago when=20
the DOT Commissioners established the goal of revegetating Iowa=92s=20
primary highways with prairie.  As most of you know, prairie plantings=20
are a keystone component of Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management=20
programs for weed control, reduction of mowing and reduced use of=20
herbicides by spot spraying.  Prairie vegetation increases storm water=20
infiltration and helps reduce erosion.  Furthermore, a diverse prairie=20
roadside is beautiful, provides roadside habitat, increases safety by=20
reducing visual monotony and trapping snow to reduce drifting on=20
roadways.
        Those opposing the prairie plantings usually cite one or more of the=
=20
following reasons: 1) Why kill existing grasses, 2) Money could better=20
be spent on other highway priorities, 3) Projects create weed problems=20
that did not previously exist, 4) NIMBY, 5) Many want to use the=20
roadsides for their own use or benefit (i.e. haying), 6) Native plants=20
are wild and unruly and potential invaders of adjacent fields, 7)=20
Native plants are of no benefit to wildlife.  Certainly some of their=20
objections are in error.  Furthermore, they are obviously not=20
interested in considering the long-term benefits of roadside prairie=20
vegetation.
        Nancy Richardson is the Iowa DOT Director and Commissioners are Suza=
n=20
Boden, Barry Cleaveland, Patricia Crawford, Thomas Hart, Barbara=20
MacGregor, Wayne Sawtelle and Don Wiley.  Contact information for the=20
Commission is available on the Iowa DOT Commission Webpage.  If you=20
feel revegetation of Iowa=92s primary highways with native prairie is a=20
good idea, I=92m sure it would be worthwhile to pass that along to them.
Daryl Smith

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<fontfamily><param>Times New Roman</param>Iowa Native Plants List
Serve Members  =20

        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=92s 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.=20
Possibly some pressure is also being applied through legislators.=20
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=92s
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 Suza=
n
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=92s primary highways with native prairie is a
good idea, I=92m sure it would be worthwhile to pass that along to them.=20

Daryl Smith

        =20

</fontfamily>=3D

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