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From page 245... ... 10-1 Chapter 10 Cost-Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10.1 Introduction The relative costs and benefits of maintaining existing or establishing new pollinator habitat along roadsides are important considerations when incorporating Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance, species conservation, and habitat management into transportation planning, design, construction, and maintenance. Read the entire page →
From page 246... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-2 Figure 10-1. Objectives of a triple bottom line. Read the entire page →
From page 247... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-3 Case Study: Arizona DOT Sustainable Transportation Program: INVEST Case Studies Arizona DOT recognizes the importance of sustainability in the long-term success of the state's transportation network, and has embraced the triple bottom line approach systematically through its administrative, planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance activities. To achieve its ambitious sustainability goals, Arizona DOT has applied the sustainability tools of the FHWA INVEST program to a wide variety of case studies. Read the entire page →
From page 248... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-4 The costs and benefits could also be considered in the context of the adjacent urban, agricultural, or natural land uses. For example, improving pollinator habitat on roadsides surrounded by natural habitat may seem unnecessary (providing little additional relative conservation value) Read the entire page →
From page 249... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-5 and species overall, is unlikely to slow down because of ongoing factors such as loss of habitat, impacts from pesticides, and the effects of climate change. Source: USFWS 2018. Note: Includes Threatened and Endangered listings under the 1973 ESA and its precursors. Figure 10-2. Read the entire page →
From page 250... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-6 costs. Developing long-term Habitat Conservation Plans (Section 10 of the ESA) Read the entire page →
From page 251... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-7  Every transportation project proposed in the plan area has been built; none have been stopped or stalled due to ESA or California ESA issues. With the MSHCP in place, ESA compliance no longer impedes the path of project environmental compliance. Read the entire page →
From page 252... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-8 Reduced Mowing, a Triple Bottom Line for DOTs Environmental Benefits  Reduced mowing can allow flowering plants to flower, providing pollinators with pollen and nectar and small wildlife with seeds and fruits. The transition from frequently mowed grass to more diverse grasslands or early successional habitat can increase wildlife habitat quality and reduce habitat fragmentation (AASHTO 2011) Read the entire page →
From page 253... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-9 10.3.3 Revegetation Costs and Benefits: Use of Native Plants Native plants can be used to meet goals for safe and efficient transportation, while supporting ecosystem health. Although the initial costs of establishing native plant material are higher -- particularly where a higher density and diversity of flowering plants are required -- than the costs of low diversity mixes that are heavy on introduced grasses, native plants are often more cost-effective in the long term. Read the entire page →
From page 254... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-10  Taking advantage of federal funding. Planting native vegetation is an eligible use of federal-aid highway funds. Read the entire page →
From page 255... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-11 Case Study: Prairie Plants More Cost-Effective over Time on Indiana Roadsides A collaborative highway research project involving researchers from Purdue University, the Indiana DOT, and the FHWA evaluated plants for use on Indiana's roadsides. Specifically, the project looked at establishment of three types of roadside plantings: turfgrass, garden wildflower mixes, and native wildflower mixes. Read the entire page →
From page 256... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-12 decision over time. This is especially true when considering decisions regarding sustainability and the triple bottom line (Waite 2013) Read the entire page →
From page 257... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-13 10.4.2 Triple Bottom Line Cost-Benefit Analysis Tool The purpose of this tool is to assist state DOTs in evaluating design features and maintenance actions that can be implemented to benefit pollinators. This tool will assist with organizing cost and benefit information, establishing the environmental and temporal contexts for evaluation, and providing the rationale and justification for selection of the preferred choice, considering the short- and long-term environmental, societal, and economic costs and benefits. Read the entire page →
From page 258... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-14 c. Describe the intended outcome of the action using the pollinator cost-benefit cubes (refer to the Pollinator Cost-Benefit Cubes section below) Read the entire page →
From page 259... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-15  Is the project located on a stretch of road in which the landscape is monotonous, and increasing plant diversity could improve driver safety?  Does the action have landscape benefits that extend beyond benefits to pollinators (e.g., does it increase carbon sequestration) Read the entire page →
From page 260... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-16 Pollinator Cost-Benefit Cubes Use these cubes to identify conservation actions for pollinators to consider in roadside projects and management. Integrate the selected cubes into the triple bottom line costbenefit analysis as described in the Steps to Conduct a Triple Bottom Line Cost-Benefit Analysis for Pollinators on Roadsides section above. Read the entire page →
From page 261... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-17 Mowing Mowing Limit mowing beyond the clear zone to no more than twice per year. Aim to mow no more than one‐third to half of an area beyond the clear zone per year (e.g., rotate mowing sections of a roadside) . Benefit Benefit High Medium Low High Medium Low Co st Low G I, G Co st Low I, G Medium Medium High High I= Benefits to imperiled species; G= Benefits to general pollinator community Mowing Mowing Limit mowing beyond the clear zone to once or less per year. Clean mowing equipment after use and between sites to limit the spread of weeds. Benefit Benefit High Medium Low High Medium Low Co st Low I, G Co st Low I, G Medium Medium High High I= Benefits to imperiled species; G= Benefits to general pollinator community Read the entire page →
From page 262... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-18 Mowing Delay mowing as late as possible during the growing season (e.g., mow in autumn) so blooming plants are available throughout the growing season. Benefit High Medium Low Co st Low Medium I, G I, G High I= Benefits to imperiled species; G= Benefits to general pollinator community Herbicides Herbicides Herbicides Avoid use of products that have toxicity to imperiled Lepidopteran species during breeding seasons. Train staff and contractors to recognize native plants and noxious and invasive weeds to reduce unintended damage to nontarget plants. Benefit Benefit High Medium Low High Medium Low Co st Low Co st Low Medium I, G G Medium I, G High I, G G High I= Benefits to imperiled species; G= Benefits to general pollinator community Read the entire page →
From page 263... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-19 Herbicides Herbicides Direct herbicide applications to undesirable plants to avoid harming nontarget species (e.g., spot‐treatment applications with a backpack sprayer, targeted applications to cut stems) . Avoid herbicide sprays when weather conditions increase drift (e.g., avoid wind speeds >15 mph; avoid applications during a temperature inversion) Read the entire page →
From page 264... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-20 Herbicides Herbicides If necessary (e.g., if the seed bank was depleted of desirable species) , replant areas that have been treated with herbicides to remove dense infestations of undesirable vegetation with desirable, competitive, low‐growing plant species to reduce the need to re‐treat the area. When feasible, hand pull or use another mechanical control strategy if in an area where herbicide use might result in impacts on imperiled species. Benefit Benefit High Medium Low High Medium Low Co st Low Co st Low Medium I, G Medium High High I G I= Benefits to imperiled species; G= Benefits to general pollinator community Herbicides Herbicides Use selective herbicides whenever possible to reduce damage to nontarget plants. Apply herbicides during plant life stages when weeds are most vulnerable (e.g., before blooming or before going to seed) Read the entire page →
From page 265... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-21 Herbicides Herbicides Whenever possible, prevent conditions that would allow incompatible vegetation or noxious and invasive species to establish or reestablish. Train staff and contractors to recognize and avoid applications to key host plants for target imperiled butterflies and moths or key nectar plants for bumble bees. Benefit Benefit High Medium Low High Medium Low Co st Low Co st Low Medium I, G G Medium I G High High I= Benefits to imperiled species; G= Benefits to general pollinator community Mechanical Weed and Brush Removal Mechanical Weed and Brush Removal Mechanical Weed and Brush Removal Minimize soil disturbance (disking, tilling) during brush removal activities to avoid spreading invasive plants and destroying overwintering sites or nests. Time activities to avoid vulnerable times for focal species. Benefit Benefit High Medium Low High Medium Low Co st Low I, G Co st Low Medium Medium High High I G I= Benefits to imperiled species; G= Benefits to general pollinator community Read the entire page →
From page 266... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-22 Mechanical Weed and Brush Removal Mechanical Weed and Brush Removal Feather or soften forest edges adjacent to clear zones to create a transitional area between the forest and grass (e.g., thin portions of the forest canopy along the edge next to grassy areas, removing undesirable or unhealthy trees) . Leave snags or trees with cavities in areas where they are set back from the road and pose no safety risk. Benefit Benefit High Medium Low High Medium Low Co st Low Co st Low I, G Medium I, G Medium High High I= Benefits to imperiled species; G= Benefits to general pollinator community Revegetation Revegetation Revegetation Increase flowering plant diversity in all plantings. Prioritize native plants in all plantings (revegetated and landscape) Read the entire page →
From page 267... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-23 Revegetation Revegetation Increase host plants in revegetation plantings. Interseed host plants into existing roadside vegetation. Benefit Benefit High Medium Low High Medium Low Co st Low I, G Co st Low Medium I, G Medium I, G G High I G High I, G G I= Benefits to imperiled species; G= Benefits to general pollinator community Revegetation Revegetation When possible, salvage native plants at construction site for replanting. Control weeds to reduce weed competition and allow native seedlings to grow in the first and second years after planting. Prevent weeds from going to seed. Benefit Benefit High Medium Low High Medium Low Co st Low Co st Low I, G Medium Medium I, G High I G High I= Benefits to imperiled species; G= Benefits to general pollinator community Read the entire page →
From page 268... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-24 Training/Education Training/Education Provide training for staff for education about why the transportation agency takes conservation actions for pollinators. Benefit High Medium Low Co st Low I, G I, G Medium I, G I, G High I= Benefits to imperiled species; G= Benefits to general pollinator community Read the entire page →
From page 269... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-25 Table 10-2. Value of benefits to pollinators of potential conservation actions to be implemented by DOTs. Read the entire page →
From page 270... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-26 Conservation actions Benefits to general pollinator community Benefits to imperiled species Direct herbicide applications to undesirable plants to avoid harming nontarget species (e.g., spot treatment applications with a backpack sprayer, targeted applications to cut stems, etc.) High High Apply herbicides during plant life stages when weeds are most vulnerable (e.g., before blooming or before going to seed) Read the entire page →
From page 271... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-27 Conservation actions Benefits to general pollinator community Benefits to imperiled species Revegetation Prioritize native plants in all plantings (revegetation and urban landscaping) High High Increase flowering plant diversity in all plantings High High Increase host plants in revegetation plantings High High Control weeds to reduce competition while allowing native seedlings to grow -- this is critical in the first and second years after planting -- and weeds should also be prevented from going to seed High High Interseed host plants into existing roadside vegetation Medium/High High Weed control prior to planting High High When possible, salvage native plants at the construction site for replanting Medium High Training/Education Provide training for staff for education about why conservation actions are taken by the transportation agency for pollinators Medium/High Medium/High Read the entire page →
From page 272... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-28 Worksheet for Triple Bottom Line Cost-Benefit Tool De fin e Describe the project area Describe the landscape context Describe the intended outcome Define and describe the timeframe for analysis Read the entire page →
From page 273... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-29 Ev al ua te Strength of Factor Environmental High Medium Low Societal High Medium Low Economic High Medium Low Read the entire page →
From page 274... ... Chapter 10. Cost‐Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10-30 De cid e Rationale for Decision: List in order of strength of factors Hi gh Environmental Societal Economic M ed iu m Lo w Read the entire page →

From page 245...

... 10-1 Chapter 10 Cost-Benefit Considerations for Pollinator Management on Roadsides 10.1 Introduction The relative costs and benefits of maintaining existing or establishing new pollinator habitat along roadsides are important considerations when incorporating Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance, species conservation, and habitat management into transportation planning, design, construction, and maintenance.