Advocating for Ecologically (and Financially) Responsible Roadside Management
Audubon of Kansas has long been and continues to be a leading advocate for establishment and enhanced management of native prairie grasses and wildflowers along Kansas Highways administered by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA). More than 150,000 acres of vegetated right-of-way (ROW) are maintained along more than 10,000 miles of state highways. In what was a prairie state, these are the grasslands most visible to the public. Vast stretches and many of these roadside areas have the potential of providing habitat for pollinating insects, nesting cover for some species of birds that require relatively undisturbed grassland and/or shrub habitat, and aesthetic enjoyment of wildflowers and native grasses. Observance of limited mowing policies and practices are critically important factors determining success or failure.