TxDOT MONARCH ACTIVITIES

Know your Plants

Name that plant!

Name that plant!

Name that plant!

Name that plant!

Name that Plant!

Name that Plant

Name that Plant!

Last One!

Purpose of the Guide

Provide a concise guide to our operators and personnel

Provide insight in to managing vegetation rights-of-ways

– Spraying with purpose

– What we do and why we do it

Provide knowledge to operators so they can make decisions in the field

based on what they are spraying, or not spraying.

Provide information regarding the parts of the plants and how the plants

spread or don’t spread.

Features of the New Grass Guide

Features of the New Grass Guide

Sorted by Wildflowers, Grasses and Weeds

Provides management information regarding

– Desirable species

– Invasive species

– Herbicide applications for targeted species

– Timing of Applications

– Products used for control

Identification information

There will be an Table of Contents, Appendix and Glossary

Features of the New Grass Guide

Features of the New Wildflower Guide

Features of the New Weed Guide

TxDOT is an active member in this plan

This plan contributes to monarch and overall native

pollinator conservation through four categories:

–Habitat conservation

–Education and outreach

–Research and monitoring

–Partnerships

Texas Monarch Consortium Executive Committee

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HABITAT CONSERVATION TxDOT Wildflower Program

– Safe and efficient travel

– Maintains 1,100,000 acres roadway/ROW and 800,000 acres of

mowable land

– Directs the TxDOT Wildflower Program

– “Don’t mow until the wildflowers have

gone to seed” – stated in 1937

memorandum

– Work to reduce cost, beautify the roads,

and blend with local surroundings

– Preservation leads to propagation

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TxDOT Maintenance Division

Mowing

Mowing is critical part of keeping the area beautiful and healthy.

Wildflowers must set seed before mowing in order to keep them there for the next year.

This reduces the cool season component to allow warm season grass establishment.

7 inch minimum height allows perennials to flourish by being in the sun’s full range.

7 inch minimum will not harm milkweed,

and other late blooming pollinator plants.

Non-mow areas are also established for

fall pollinator habitat and to reduce

maintenance costs

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Challenges

– Conflicting public expectations

• Wildflowers = Weeds

• Milkweed = Toxic to Livestock

– Expectations vary across state

Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES)

– Storm water runoff/soil erosion prevention

– 70% perennial vegetative cover

– Need to combine efforts- grass and pollinator mix

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EDUCATION AND OUTREACH Monarch Waystations at TxDOT Safety

Rest Areas

Safety Rest Areas

– 12 Travel Information Centers

– 80 Safety Rest Areas

– 21 Major Highways

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Educating

Train TxDOT licensed Herbicide Applicators (1,300 licensed

employees) during Pesticide Recertification Courses

– Vegetation & Wildflower Identification

– Proper Herbicide Timing and Applications

– Mandatory, Annual Trainings

Educate and Support Districts

– Informational Pamphlet Development & Wildflower Guides

– Importance of Pollinator Plants, their Placement, Propagation and

Maintenance

– Seed Mix Recommendations

– Biennial Meetings

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Travel & Information Centers

• Frequent School Field Trips

• Community Outreach Events Held

• Statewide Events (Tourist Day)

• Partnerships (Master gardeners, parks and wildlife, etc.)

• Pollinator Information distributed to all who attend

– Promos broadcasted

– Pamphlets distributed

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RESEARCH & MONITORING South Texas Natives & Texas Native

Seeds Project

2001-present ($500,000 per year)

Project to bring locally grown seed to the commercial market

Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at TAMU-Kingsville,

Texas AgriLife, Tarleton State University, Sul Ross State University

30 varieties to add to TxDOT seed mixes.

15 of 25 districts amended to add additional native vegetation

Zizotes milkweed will be brought from the commercial market.

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South Texas Natives and Texas Native Seeds Projects

PARTNERSHIPS

Purpose is to promote public awareness of the monarch butterfly, honey bee and

pollinator conservation as well as the central flyway and migratory path (Interstate

35) of the monarch butterfly.

Organizes educational materials, protects and manages pollinator habitats, and

develops strategies for pollinator- friendly seed mixes.

Six states would benefit from shared vegetation management practices and

promotion of public awareness initiatives related to pollinators.

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Monarch Highway

Monarch Highway Logo

Monarch Waystations

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– Cooperative agreement between USFWS and Native Plant Society of Texas

– Included native nectar, host-plants and interpretive signs

to highlight the projects main features

– Completed Four Safety Rest Areas on I35

• Hill County Safety Rest Area (paired)

• Bell County Safety Rest Area (paired)

To learn more about TxDOTs involvement watch this clip:

TxDOT Current Activities

TxDOT Pollinator Activities

TxDOT has demonstrated exemplary stewardship and will continue to do so with its long-term commitment in providing pollinator habitat along its 800,000 acres of roadsides.

What TxDOT has done?

-Planted over 5,000 acres of pollinator plants in 2017 planted throughout 25 Districts

-Established Pollinator Waystations in Safety Rest Areas along IH-35 Corridor

-Serve Texas State Monarch Conservation Strategic Plan

-Serve as part of Monarch Highway Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in cooperation with six other states to adopt and maintain pollinator activities.

-Partner for pollinator habitat creation, education & promotion with:

-US Fish & Wildlife Service

-Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

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– Seeding 5000 acres in pollinator plants

– Establishing pollinator/prairie areas in safety rest areas

– Utilize Green Ribbon Funding for additional wildflower/pollinator plantings

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Future Projects

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Questions?

TxDOT-MNT (512) 416-3093 (512) 415-3423