[PCA] Promising technologies for plant surveys -- TRB Study

[Kunda Lee Wicce]

Mr. Stein,

Per your email below, requesting

> input about any interesting, unusual, and promising approaches to  
> surveying and monitoring native plant populations, particularly  
> those with relevance to the transportation process (planning [long- 
> range as
> well as project-specific], design, construction, maintenance).   
> These tools, techniques, and approaches could range from improved/ 
> innovative methods for field surveys, data management, analysis, or  
> decision-support.


the Native Prairies Association of Texas is conducting county by  
county surveys for tallgrass prairie plant communities in 94 Texas  
counties.  We are fully funded to complete these over the next two  
years. We begin with aerial photography, locating likely prairies,  
then do field truthing from road rights-of-way.  We also obtain  
ownership and contact information.  I'm attaching our Survey Protocol  
and Supplemental Information documents.

We currently share this information with other Texas land trusts, TNC  
and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  It would be excellent if  
the information were made available to planners of O&G pipeline  
easements.

If I can be of any further assistance, call or email me.

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Kunda Wicce
President
Native Prairies Association of Texas
512-six-six-nine-6532

On Aug 13, 2008, at 8:39 AM, Bruce Stein wrote:

> The Transportation Research Board, an arm of the National Academies of
> Sciences, is developing a synthesis publication on "Promising
> Technologies for Environmental Surveys" under the National Cooperative
> Highway Research Program (NCHRP 20-05/Topic 39-12). (For more
> information, see
> http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=1675).
>
> A survey of state departments of transportation and state wildlife
> agencies was carried out as part of this project to identify potential
> techniques and technologies for inclusion in the synthesis report. In
> reviewing the draft report at a recent TRB panel meeting, however, it
> was clear that promising and innovative techniques and technologies  
> for
> surveys of native plants were under-represented. As a result, I wanted
> to reach out to subscribers to the PCA listserve to solicit additional
> input.
>
> At this stage of the process, the most helpful plant-related input  
> would
> be to hear about any interesting, unusual, and promising approaches to
> surveying and monitoring native plant populations, particularly those
> with relevance to the transportation process (planning [long-range as
> well as project-specific], design, construction, maintenance).  These
> tools, techniques, and approaches could range from improved/innovative
> methods for field surveys, data management, analysis, or
> decision-support.
>
> Patricia Cramer of Utah State University (patricia.cramer at usu.edu) is
> serving as a consultant to TRB in preparing this report. Please direct
> or copy responses to Patricia.
>
> TRB guidance documents of this type can be very influential in helping
> federal and state transportation officials decide what approaches to
> build into and fund as part of their work, and it is to our  
> advantage to
> ensure that native plants are well-represented in this effort.  
> Thanks in
> advance for your assistance on this.
>
> Bruce A. Stein, Ph.D.
> Vice President and Chief Scientist
> NatureServe
> (703) 908-1830
> bruce_stein at natureserve.org
> www.natureserve.org
>
>
>
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