Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Research & Innovation

Apply Landscape Ecology Principles to Create a Statewide Pollinator Network

Need Statement 702

Problem

Just like humans and other animals, pollinators need food, water, shelter, and space to support robust populations. Pollinator habitat is an area with a variety of flowering plants that provide food and nesting space. If a habitat is intentionally planted to provide nutrition for pollinators, then it needs to contain a mixture of plant species so that bloom times range from early spring to late fall. This ensures that flowers will be available throughout the pollinator activity season. Home gardens, parks, community gardens, prairies and meadows can all provide pollen and nectar. These habitats can be refuges for pollinators foraging through lawns and farmlands that may not have the floral resources they need.
MnDOT owns and operates hundreds of Safety Rest Areas (SRAs) in varying classes across the State of Minnesota. These SRAs are linked by an extensive road network composed of Interstate and State Aid Highways and their associated rights-of-way. These SRAs have the potential to serve as pollinator refuge hubs (patch) connected by the road network (corridors) within the greater context of Minnesota's urban and agricultural context (matrix). Many of these SRAs already employ sustainable landscape practices by preserving and promoting pollinator habitat, and there are corridors that promote native plants, such as the "Prairie Passage" route along the southern and western portions of the State.
Additionally, State of Minnesota Executive Order 19-28 makes it a priority for state government to support and promote healthy and diverse pollinator populations that sustain and enhance Minnesota's environment, economy, and way of life. The order requires MnDOT to work towards:

  • Growing a diversity of native nectar- and pollen-rich flowering plants, providing continuous blooms from early spring through late fall, and encouraging management of lands to benefit pollinators wherever feasible.
  • Managing state-owned transportation properties and rights of way to create, protect, and enhance pollinator habitat.

Objective

This study will provide an analysis of State assets, including SRA locations, and connections, including an overlay of existing high quality pollinator habitat that can help to prioritize and promote future habitat enhancement at SRAs and along critical corridors. This network would specifically support the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (MN State Bee) and Monarch Butterflies, among many other beneficial insects.
Specifically, the outcome of this study should, at a minimum, contain the following:

  • Inventory - An initial Inventory will need to be completed in order to map MnDOT and other State-owned lands that currently support pollinators or have the potential to.
  • Prioritization Map – Once an inventory is completed, analysis can be completed to identify critical gaps in habitat corridors with a prioritization for areas that support Rusty Patched Bumble Bees, Monarch Butterflies, and other specialty species.
  • Guidance – An implementation plan will provide guidance on how to successfully achieve a Statewide network. This should also include references to best practices for the long-term management of these lands.

Previous research

Strategic priorities

  • Asset Management: This analysis can help to prioritize and promote future habitat enhancement at SRAs and along critical corridors with the potential for maintenance cost savings.
  • Climate Change & Environment: By analyzing the network, we can promote future habitat enhancement for Rusty Patched Bumble Bees (MN State Bee) and Monarch Butterflies, among many other beneficial insects.

Expected outcomes

  • New or improved policy, rules, or regulations
  • New or improved decision support tool, simulation, or model/algorithm (software)
  • Other.
    • Support Minnesota Executive Order 19-28
    • Support a positive public image of MnDOT and the State of Minnesota by promotion of sustainable practices and environmental stewardship
    • Promote environmental tourism across the State of Minnesota

Expected benefits

Expected benefits that may be realized if the findings and recommendations from this research is adopted or implemented

  • Environmental Aspects
    • Critical habitat support through landscape ecology.
  • Lifecycle: Reduce maintenance cost
    • Conversion of turf areas at SRAs to native habitat saves on mowing costs
  • Operations and Maintenance Savings: Reduced labor
    • Conversion of turf areas at SRAs to native habitat saves on mowing costs

Technical advisory panel

Name and affiliation of individuals to consider for the Technical Advisory Panel.

  • Tony Chevalier – MnDOT Site Development Unit (SDU)
  • Jenny Krantz – MnDOT Rest Area Program Manager
  • Carol Zoff – MnDOT Environmental Planning & Design Unit Supervisor
  • Tina Markeson – Roadside Vegetation Management Unit Supervisor
  • Carol Strojny – MnDOT (OES) Erosion & Stormwater Management Unit
  • Dan Shaw – BWSR Senior Ecologist
  • Dan Gullickson – MnDOT Operations
  • Christopher Smith – MnDOT Office of Environmental Stewardship (OES)
  • Rebeca Gutierrez-Moreno –State Pollinator Coordinator, EQB, MPCA
  • Christina Locke – Minnesota DNR