Pollinator Habitat Conservation Along Roadways, Volume 7: Inland Northwest (2023) / Chapter Skim
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From page 123... ...
7-1 Chapter 7 Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7.1 Introduction Habitat loss is a leading factor in the decline of many pollinators (NRC 2007) , and increasing pollinator habitat is an effective conservation strategy (e.g., Tonietto and Larkin 2018)
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-2 7.2 Considering Imperiled Pollinators in Revegetation Enhancing habitat for imperiled pollinators, or for pollinators in general, can be a specific objective for revegetation projects. Even if it is not a specific objective, elements that increase the value of the revegetation project to pollinators can be incorporated into other project objectives.
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From page 125... ...
Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-3 Pollinators Food for Larval Stage Food for Adult Shelter, Overwintering General Revegetation Goals Ground‐ nesting bees Provisions of nectar and pollen within the nest. Nectar. Excavate nest tunnels in bare or partially vegetated, well‐drained soil. Increase density and diversity of native flowering plants. Retain areas with bare or partially vegetated, well‐drained soil. Tunnel‐ nesting bees Provisions of nectar and pollen within the nest. Nectar. Nest in narrow tunnels in dead standing trees, or excavate nests in hollow stems or pith of twigs. Some construct domed nests of mud, plant resins, saps, or gums on the surface of rocks or trees. Increase density and diversity of native flowering plants. Retain or install woody plants and herbaceous plants with hollow or pithy stems. Leave snags of non‐hazard trees outside of the recovery zone. Beetles Some species are herbivorous, feeding on plants; many are carnivorous and eat prey such as aphids, slugs, and insect eggs. Pollen, nectar, floral parts; some species are also carnivorous. Overwinter in soil or leaf litter, under rocks, logs, brush, or bark. Increase density and diversity of native flowering plants. Retain overwintering sites when feasible.
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From page 126... ...
Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-4 Pollinators Food for Larval Stage Food for Adult Shelter, Overwintering General Revegetation Goals Butterflies Vegetation of host plants. Nectar; some males obtain nutrients, minerals, and salt from rotting fruit, tree sap, animal dung and urine, carrion, clay deposits, and mud puddles. Protected site such as a tree, bush, tall grass, or a pile of leaves, sticks, or rocks. Increase density and diversity of native flowering plants. Include specific host plants.
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-5 Pollinators Food for Larval Stage Food for Adult Shelter, Overwintering General Revegetation Goals Wasps Provisions of insect prey such as caterpillars, aphids, grasshoppers, planthoppers, true bugs, and more. Nectar. Many nest in the ground; others nest in tunnel nests in wood or cavities in mud or resin. Increase density and diversity of native flowering plants. Retain areas with partially vegetated well‐drained soil.
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From page 128... ...
Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-6 monotony, contributing to clearer thinking, and reducing driver stress (Topp 1990; Cackowsky and Nasar 2003; Mok et al. 2006; Macdonald et al.
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From page 129... ...
Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-7 designated wildflower routes, for example, that showcase native wildflowers; when bluebonnets (six species of Lupinus that are collectively considered the state flower of Texas) are in bloom, some towns along these routes hold bluebonnet festivals.
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From page 130... ...
Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-8 It is also important to consider the frequency and timing of cutting and mowing maintenance. Maintaining a regularly mown recovery zone can increase driver visibility and reduce deer–vehicle collisions (Mastro et al.
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-9 Table 7-2. Bloom calendar for several wildflower species found in the Inland Northwest region.
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-10 7.3.2 Roadside Plants as Shelter for Pollinators Woody vegetation such as trees and shrubs can provide shelter for pollinators during the growing season, and can also provide niches for overwintering. Some pollinators will overwinter under bark or in the soil just under shallow roots, or in piles of brush.
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From page 133... ...
Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-11 like roadsides and other linear strips of vegetation such as utility ROWs may provide habitat resilience as changes in climate drive species range contractions or expansions. 7.3.4 Designs and Conservation Practices There are a number of conservation practices to consider when designing revegetation plans.
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From page 134... ...
Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-12 Revegetation design practices for imperiled pollinator species include: Include key host plants for target pollinator species. Imperiled butterflies and moths may rely on plants of a single species or genus as host plants for their caterpillars.
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-13 locates areas of high, medium, and low pollinator habitat qualities -- can be a base for designing a revegetation plan that improves pollinator habitat within the context of larger landscape connectivity. Corridors with high-quality habitat support more butterfly species, including specialist species, and population persistence (Habel et al.
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-14 Prioritize the use of native plants. Avoid using introduced (non-native)
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-15 Where available and economical, native plants and seed should be procured from local ecotype providers. Local ecotype plant materials are adapted to the local climatic conditions, will generally establish well, and will have bloom times in sync with the presence of monarchs and other pollinators.
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-16 Table 7-3. Native Plants with value to pollinators for use on roadsides in the Inland Northwest region Scientific Name Common Name Bloom Period Life Cycle Form (Forb, Shrub, Tree, Sedge, Grass)
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-17 Scientific Name Common Name Bloom Period Life Cycle Form (Forb, Shrub, Tree, Sedge, Grass) Sun Soil (Dry, Moist, Wet)
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-18 Scientific Name Common Name Bloom Period Life Cycle Form (Forb, Shrub, Tree, Sedge, Grass) Sun Soil (Dry, Moist, Wet)
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-19 Scientific Name Common Name Bloom Period Life Cycle Form (Forb, Shrub, Tree, Sedge, Grass) Sun Soil (Dry, Moist, Wet)
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-20 Scientific Name Common Name Bloom Period Life Cycle Form (Forb, Shrub, Tree, Sedge, Grass) Sun Soil (Dry, Moist, Wet)
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-21 Scientific Name Common Name Bloom Period Life Cycle Form (Forb, Shrub, Tree, Sedge, Grass) Sun Soil (Dry, Moist, Wet)
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-22 To identify additional species appropriate to this region and valuable to pollinators, use the Ecoregional Revegetation Assistant Tool, a map-based online tool to aid practitioners when selecting native plants for restoration and pollinator habitat enhancement. The map can be used to find a state or US Environmental Protection Agency Level III Ecoregion, and the tool will produce a list of plants and plant attributes suitable for that area.
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From page 145... ...
Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-23 Plantings for pollinators at rest areas or welcome centers can also be opportunities for experimentation, places where DOTs can trial particular seed mixes or planting methods on a smaller scale before implementing them on a larger area. Wisconsin DOT, for example, is currently restoring prairie at two of its busiest rest areas, removing invasive species and interseeding additional prairie species. There are also opportunities for collaborations and partnerships in these spaces. Georgia DOT is in the process of installing pollinator habitats at some of rest areas and welcome centers, in partnership with the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts. Kansas DOT worked with partners to trial prescribed burning to manage plantings at several of their rest areas. 7.4 Installation Considerations for Revegetation 7.4.1 Sourcing Plant Materials Obtaining locally or regionally sourced native plant materials in sufficient quality and quantities for a project involves advance planning. Coordination with native plant providers early in the planning process is important.
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From page 146... ...
Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-24 seed lot and reject seed lots that contain undesirable species as contaminants that might pose a risk to the planting. Native Plants and Costs of Revegetation Although the initial costs of establishing native plant material may be more significant than using widely available introduced species, particularly for projects that include a higher density and diversity of flowering plants or specialized species, native plants are often more cost effective in the long term.
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From page 147... ...
Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-25 an integrated vegetation management plan to address weed issues; the planting of native species to enhance pollinator habitat; removal of non-native species from species mixes; and obtaining expert training or assistance on pollinators-friendly practices. Funding was not appropriated by Congress as part of the FY 2022 budget for either the Invasive Plant Elimination Program or the Pollinator-Friendly Practices grant program but will hopefully be included in future budgets.
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From page 148... ...
Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-26 https://legiscan.com/NJ/text/S227/2016. North Carolina passed an act to prioritize the use of native plants on roadsides in 2019.
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From page 149... ...
Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-27 Box 7‐2. Scorecard for prioritizing sites for revegetation to support imperiled pollinators Resources to install high quality, diverse native plant material may be limited. Limited resources can be leveraged by prioritizing some roadside sites for revegetation that involves habitat restoration for imperiled or at‐risk pollinators. Use this tool to help determine a score for a site that can be helpful in site prioritization. Select all the options that apply to the site: ⌧ Presence of focal pollinator species. A listed or imperiled pollinator species is known to be in the vicinity or was previously found at the site. (2pts) ⌧ Landscape connectivity. The site improves connectivity of existing habitat within the landscape. For example, the site is near or connected to a natural area (e.g., state park, national forest, nature preserve)
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-28 Chapter 9 includes a tool to help evaluate sites for their conservation value to pollinators: the Pollinator Habitat Assessment Guide for Roadsides. The tool includes a rapid assessment and a comprehensive assessment of roadside pollinator habitat.
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From page 151... ...
Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-29 When installing seeds, select the method of seeding that is most appropriate for the site. See Table 7-5 for an overview of the advantages, disadvantages, and tips on seeding techniques, using the three main seeding methods used in roadside revegetation.
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-30 Seeding Method Where to Use Site Preparation Needed Seeding Techniques Following Seeding more) are required. Additional step of pressing seed into soil after seeding to help germination is required. Drill seeding (Using a native seed drill)
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-31 Seeding Method Where to Use Site Preparation Needed Seeding Techniques Following Seeding in place until there is enough moisture for germination and protect it from seed predators. Hydromulch can be expensive, and the seeding rate is harder to control; well‐ trained applicators are needed. seed in place. Seed the area furthest from the road first.
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-32 contracts that outlines specifications for best practices. Arizona has an example of language for seeding specifications for contractors available at: https://apps.azdot.gov/files/roadway-engineering/roadside-dev/sample-class-ii-seedingspecial-provisions_reference-only_adot-ido-roadway-roadside-development.pdf, and their best practices are outlined here: https://azdot.gov/node/5372.
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-33 3. Consider flight and breeding periods of the listed and imperiled pollinators that are in the area when planning timing of maintenance activities.
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Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-34 7.5 Case Studies 7.5.1 Adapting Design and Management in Washington Washington DOT is working to restore corridors of ROWs to design roadsides so that they look seamless with the surrounding landscape, as if no construction has taken place. To learn more about restoration of grasslands, Washington DOT is using the Scatter Creek Rest Area as a testing ground.
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From page 157... ...
Chapter 7. Revegetation and Pollinators: Design and Implementation 7-35 markers were placed along the edge of the plantings, with words clearly marked, "Wildflower Area – Only Mow after 2nd Week of October." 7.5.3 Revegetation focusing on Layers, Density, and Diversity Aesthetics is an important component of revegetation designs, but is secondary to creating a functional planting and healthy ecosystem. Massachusetts DOT Landscape Designer Tara Mitchell recommends focusing on ecological factors in order to create longterm, self-sustaining vegetation.
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