<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Bonnie,</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Do you have samples of legislation from
the 3 states that have mowing regulations?</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Thanks,</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Lew</font>
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<td width=40%><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><b>"Harper-Lore, Bonnie"
<Bonnie.Harper-Lore@fhwa.dot.gov></b> </font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Sent by: native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org</font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif">08/31/2006 02:37 PM</font>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">To</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">"mangodance" <bmn@iglou.com>,
<native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org></font>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">cc</font></div>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Subject</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Re: [PCA] Fw: [Pollinator] Roads and
pollinators - again</font></table>
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<br>
<br><font size=2><tt>I am a technical resource for all 50 State DOTs.<br>
The mowing tradition is a tough one to crack. Doing so is part of
my<br>
job description.<br>
I have been trying for 13 years...so feel free to carp!!!<br>
The safety reason has no scientific basis and is overused, because it is<br>
"the way we've always done it". <br>
The clear zone policy of many DOTs is not accurate. Reasonable mowing<br>
of one swath only is what is needed for vehicle recovery and parking for<br>
emergencies. One swath is all that is needed for visibility at<br>
intersections and in forested areas.<br>
Mowing itself in some states is admittedly attracting large mammals to<br>
the roadside to eat. We shoot ourselves in the foot with over mowing.<br>
Honestly, there are only two answers I have found:<br>
1. Calls from the public to the top of the DOT or the Governor, and/or<br>
2. State legislation. At least 3 States have reduced mowing
by DOT<br>
laws that allow only one swath except during one month in the end of<br>
summer where they can mow right of way fence to right of way fence.<br>
They think the public wants it to look neat. Let them know if you<br>
prefer a natural look. The 3 States who do have mowing law imposed
on<br>
DOTs did so to protect nesting birds. Reduced mowing would also protect<br>
other small critters, and pollinators. We did a study in Iowa some<br>
years back and showed that butterflies prefered native unmowed grassland<br>
habitat and did not increase butterfly roadkill. Every State in the<br>
U.S. has some kind of grassland community to emulate. I advocate<br>
grasslands, because highway engineers will be comfortable with a<br>
softscape solution that they can at least mow the edge and on occasion<br>
all to prevent forest encroachment.<br>
<br>
Their fear is litigation. One tree and one vehicle collide on their<br>
right of way, and the responsibility has been historically costly. This<br>
is a difficult fear to overcome. It has a lot of history and dollars<br>
lost behind it.<br>
<br>
Perhaps these insights will give you some ideas about how you can help<br>
them mow less. Let them know you do not want the agricultural approach<br>
to vegetation management, but a more natural and ecologically-based<br>
solution. They really want to "do the right thing" too.<br>
<br>
Good luck,<br>
Bonnie.<br>
<br>
<br>
Bonnie L. Harper-Lore<br>
Restoration Ecologist<br>
Office of Environment, HEPN-30<br>
Federal Highway Administration<br>
360 Jackson Street, Ste. 500<br>
St. Paul, MN 55101<br>
651-291-6104<br>
<br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org<br>
[mailto:native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of<br>
mangodance<br>
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 8:18 AM<br>
To: native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org<br>
Subject: Re: [PCA] Fw: [Pollinator] Roads and pollinators - again<br>
<br>
Lewis_Gorman@fws.gov wrote:<br>
<br>
> <br>
> It's hard to believe that managing Interstate and limited access <br>
> highways, clover leaves, etc. by merely not mowing them (except for
<br>
> safety requirements) would not be of overall advantage to all<br>
wildlife.<br>
> Is a study really required to determine an overall benefit?
<br>
> Increased biodiversity alone should justify supporting a reduced <br>
> mowing policy on highway lands.<br>
> There must be millions of acres being mowed at great cost, petroleum
<br>
> energy use, and associated air pollution that would be significantly
<br>
> reduced by halting mowing, except as minimally required by federal
<br>
> highway safety specifications.<br>
<br>
I've been carping about not mowing for years (even before I got there).
<br>
Mowing is basically a jobs program. The contracting for mowing
is as<br>
ugly as any defense contracting. The safety aspect is ridiculous.
They<br>
tell me they're afraid people will go off road and hit a tree. <br>
Apparently all the rock walls, drop-offs to creeks, and similar things<br>
are not dangerous to people leaving the road.<br>
<br>
Additionally, if it was REALLY safety they were after, they wouldn't put<br>
all that optimum deer browse next to the roads.<br>
<br>
<br>
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</tt></font>
<br>