ADOT grows pollinator habitats along roadways

With pollinating insect populations like bees and Monarch butterflies declining, ADOT is establishing and conserving pollinator habitats along its rights of way.

ADOT’s efforts are spotlighted in the Transportation Research Board’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program’s series of 16 guides. Arizona and New Mexico are featured in the Southwest Guide, which was released this week.

Kris Gade, ADOT Environmental Planning assistant environmental administrator for biology, cultural resources and water, was one of the National Academy of Sciences panel members who developed right-of-way guidelines that are included in the Southwest Guide. In honor of National Pollinator Week, June 19-25, she wants to raise awareness about pollinators.

“One of the biggest reasons pollinators are declining is loss of habitat and native flowering plants that pollinators need for food and reproduction. ADOT helps pollinators by maintaining our right of way to allow and encourage these types of plants. We do this by timing maintenance practices like mowing and spraying herbicide to times when pollinators aren't present wherever possible.”

Gade also is part of Arizona Monarch Collaborative and the Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group that developed a nationwide conservation agreement for monarch butterflies to conserve and enhance monarch butterfly habitat, including providing vegetation they need to survive, such as milkweed.

ADOT only uses diverse native seed mixes to revegetate projects after construction, including plants that bloom when pollinators may be present in the right of way. They include chia, desert marigold and Mexican poppy.

For more information, view ADOT’s roadside vegetation management guidelines.