The Dubuque County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on August 15 to establish an integrated roadside management plan for Dubuque County. Integrated Roadside Management is a long term approach to vegetation management that:
The Dubuque County Plan will:
Half of all counties in Iowa have an Integrated Roadside Management Plan. Dubuque County has had a plan for many years, but it was not implemented until now. Dubuque County is applying for $6000 for prairie seed from the Living Roadway Trust Fund for a total of $10,000 to implement the plan. Old Farley Road will be the initial planting site.
- Systematically evaluates each roadside area to be managed.
- Determines which plant communities best fit the area.
- Develops procedures that will encourage, enhance, or re-establish native plant communities.
- Provides self-sustaining, diversified, visually interesting vegetation.
- Keeps safety and an improved environment as priorities.
- Utilizes the most beneficial methods to prevent or correct undesirable situations caused by disturbance or less than optimum vegetative ground cover.
The Dubuque County Plan will:
- Develop a public awareness campaign to gain support for integrated management through media, established organizations, seminars and brochures.
- Obtain educational and informational material on Integrated Roadside Vegetative Management to be presented in seminars and distributed to adjacent landowners, the general public, consultants and contractors.
- Provide guidelines and directives for contractors and others who seed, plant, and maintain roadsides.
- Prepare and distribute instructions on preservation of desirable areas and treatment of areas that need improvement.
- Gather, develop, and distribute information with other jurisdictions; seek and share information with other counties.
- Encourage research in all aspects of Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management: i.e., road design for improving vegetation, planting methods, management practices, seed sources, seeding rates, seed mixes, and planting materials.
- Encourage use of native seeds and plant materials native to Iowa.
Half of all counties in Iowa have an Integrated Roadside Management Plan. Dubuque County has had a plan for many years, but it was not implemented until now. Dubuque County is applying for $6000 for prairie seed from the Living Roadway Trust Fund for a total of $10,000 to implement the plan. Old Farley Road will be the initial planting site.