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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=846332419-31082006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>There is a NJ study from Rutgers that is on old field
succession, which is analogous to roadside vegetation. It shows that woody
encroachment</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=846332419-31082006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>happens over time as we all would guess. However,
from their conclusions specifically in New Jersey, mowing once every five years
should accomplish what is needed in forested areas for the sake of safety.
Again, good luck to you. (Robichaud Collins and Anderson,
1994)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Bonnie L. Harper-Lore<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype'; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma">Restoration
Ecologist<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype'; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma">Office
of Environment, HEPN-30<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype'; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma">Federal
Highway Administration<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype'; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma">360
Jackson Street, Ste. 500<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype'; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma">St.
Paul, MN<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>55101<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype'; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma">651-291-6104<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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<DIV> </DIV><BR>
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<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B>
native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org
[mailto:native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>Renee Scagnelli<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, August 31, 2006 12:06
PM<BR><B>To:</B> Bill Stringer; penny@pinenut.com;
native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [PCA] Fw:
[Pollinator] Roads and pollinators - again<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>I think it is extremely important to recognize that mowing is
necessary in many cases--but that the frequency could be substantially reduced
(yearly, every other year, or every 3 years, etc., depending on the target area
and the associated plant species, etc), and that the mowing schedule needs to be
sensitive to the maturation of seeds, plant rarity, etc.<BR><BR>In some places,
complete cessation of mowing would be disastrous to the populations-- but yearly
or every other year would be more than sufficient.<BR><BR>In our area, preserves
held by one well known nature conservation organization have lost a number of
rare plant species due to *lack* of mowing. Previous to their acquiring of the
property one preserve in particular was mowed once a year, late season.
Unfortunately, the lack of mowing has caused a once fabulous botanical preserve
to lose a number of fabulous species.<BR><BR>In this area, late October/early
November works well for areas that need to be mowed.<BR><BR>In fire prone areas,
like the pine barrens, another factor in necessity of mowing is the height of
grasses & vehicles pulling off roadside, and the potential for fire. (Or so
I have been told. Doesn't seem to me to be enough to warrant mowing several
times a year!)<BR><BR>Mowing doesn't seem to me to be as simple as should we mow
or shouldn't we--at least not here. <BR><BR>It seems to be a combination
understanding of the desired outcome, the necessity of management for that
outcome, and the frequency and timing of the mowing if mowing is necessary, plus
any number of variables that a habitat. <BR><BR>Some plants need disturbance in
order to thrive--Stylisma pickeringii var. pickeringii, being a local example.
On the other hand, though, too much disturbance will destroy the
population.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Renee<BR><BR><BR><BR><B><I>Bill Stringer
<bstrngr@CLEMSON.EDU></I></B> wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid"><FONT
size=3>I am regularly frustrated by the poor timing exercised by the folks in
charge of mowing roadsides. It seems when the blooming maxes, or the
native grasses are peaking, or seeds are maturing, along come the
mowers.<BR><BR>This probably represents an opportunity for us conservation
types to do good, by providing information and training about the best times
and frequencies of mowing, and recognition of important native
species.<BR><BR>Thanx<BR><BR>Bill Stringer<BR>Sometimes Roadside
Weeper<BR><BR>At 11:04 AM 8/31/2006, penny@pinenut.com wrote:<BR></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite"><FONT size=3> I live in an
area that is the second largest for beef production in the <BR>U.S. Our
native Ozark biodiversity has been converted to monoculture fescue
<BR>in large sections of this county. The fence rows and roadsides are
the only <BR>areas- frequently for miles -with seed heads or berries.
These are dirt <BR>roads with very little traffic, yet over the last couple
of weeks these were <BR>all mowed. The elderberries, summac and
buckbrush are gone because of the <BR>mowing and I wonder just how and where
the birds, rabbits, racoons and deer <BR>will find the food they need in
addition to the pollinators. Makes no sense <BR>at all.<BR><BR>Penny
Frazier<BR><BR>nal Message ----- <BR>From: "mangodance"
<bmn@iglou.com><BR>To: <><BR>Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006
9:17 AM<BR>Subject: Re: [PCA] Fw: [Pollinator] Roads and pollinators -
again<BR><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 wildlife.<BR>>> Is a study
really required to determine an overall benefit? Increased<BR>>>
biodiversity alone should justify supporting a reduced mowing policy
on<BR>>> 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>>
_______________________________________________<BR>> native-plants
mailing list<BR>> native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org<BR>> <A
href="http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/native-plants_lists.plantconservation.org"
eudora="autourl">http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/native-plants_lists.plantconservation.org</A>
<BR>><BR>> Disclaimer<BR>> Posts on this list reflect only the
opinion of the individual who is <BR>> posting the message; they are not
official opinions or positions of the <BR>> Plant Conservation
Alliance.<BR>><BR>><BR>>
<BR><BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>native-plants
mailing list<BR>native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org<BR><A
href="http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/native-plants_lists.plantconservation.org"
eudora="autourl">http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/native-plants_lists.plantconservation.org</A>
<BR><BR>Disclaimer<BR>Posts on this list reflect only the opinion of the
individual who is posting the message; they are not official opinions or
positions of the Plant Conservation
Alliance.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>_______________________________________________<BR>native-plants
mailing
list<BR>native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org<BR>http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/native-plants_lists.plantconservation.org<BR><BR>Disclaimer<BR>Posts
on this list reflect only the opinion of the individual who is posting the
message; they are not official opinions or positions of the Plant Conservation
Alliance.</BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR><BR>
<DIV>Renée (Brecht) Scagnelli<BR>Associate Director<BR><A
href="http://www.cumauriceriver.org/">Citizens United to Protect the Maurice
River and its Tributaries</A> <BR><BR>U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services
Volunteer Coordinator: <A
href="http://www.fws.gov/northeast/njfieldoffice/Endangered/Endangered.htm">Adopt-a-swamp
pink population and Knieskerns monitoring program</A><BR>Vineland Environmental
Commission<BR>South Jersey Bayshores Coalition<BR>Cumberland County Eagle
Festival Committee 2006 (formerly Raptor Festival)<BR><A
href="http://www.pnjpc.njpinelandsanddownjersey.com/Mission_Statement.htm">Partnerships
for NJ Plant Conservation</A> <BR><BR><A
href="http://www.njpinelandsanddownjersey.com/open">Visit NJ Pines and Down
Jersey</A><BR><BR><A
href="http://www.miumu.com/boards/index.php?mforum=NJPinelands">Join our NJ
Pines & Down Jersey Forums</A><BR><BR></DIV>
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