TxDOT Native Plant Integration Program for Texas

This implementation project will work to commercialize native seed sources from central and west Texas for TxDOT’s use, and develop native seed sources for east Texas and coastal TxDOT Districts. As a result of methods tested in TxDOT research projects 0-4570 and 0-6665, regionally adapted native seed sources of short stature grasses, forbs, and legumes will be developed, commercialized, and made available for TxDOT specification for use on roadsides to meet revegetation mandates throughout Texas. Objectives will include the collection, evaluation increase, and commercialization of seed sources of regionally adapted native seeds. Resulting native seed mixes will enable TxDOT to achieve permanent vegetation cover resulting in timely notice of termination following construction projects. Implementation and use of native seeds will also enable TxDOT to meet current and proposed federal mandates for native plant use on highway rights-of-way throughout Texas. Native seeds made available through this work will also greatly improve TxDOT’s ability to restore pollinator plants, including milkweeds, in all regions of the state by ensuring commercial availability of plant centers, and seed sources developed will be commercialized through private seed companies. The project team will work cooperatively with TxDOT Maintenance Division Vegetation Management personnel to development and implement the new standard specification item 164, Seeding for Erosion Control Specifications, that will utilize native seeds made available by the project. The implementation project will enable TxDOT to meet Federal Clean Water Act mandates for erosion control and provide diverse native habitat supporting native plants, pollinators, and wildflowers on roadsides, and to reduce impacts to adjacent private lands throughout Texas.

• Record URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/Presto/project=5-6665-01
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Related to TxDOT Research Project 0-6665

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $1,500,000
• Contract Numbers:

  5-6665-01

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Texas Department of Transportation

  11th and Brazos Streets
  Austin, TX  United States  78701
• Managing Organizations:

  Texas Department of Transportation

  11th and Brazos Streets
  Austin, TX  United States  78701
• Project Managers:

  Odell, Wade

• Performing Organizations:

  Texas A&M University, Kingsville

  955 N. University Blvd.
  Kingsville, TX  United States  78363
• Principal Investigators:

  Smith, Forrest

• Start Date: 20180901
• Expected Completion Date: 20210831
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Erosion control; Field studies; Native plants; Right of way (Land); Roadside flora; Vegetation control
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01715936
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Texas Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 5-6665-01
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 9 2019 3:44PM