• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
New England Transportation Consortium

New England Transportation Consortium

New England Transportation Consortium

  • About NETC
    • Organizational Structure
    • Polices and Procedures
    • Links
    • Accomplishments
    • Committees
  • Research
    • All Research Projects
    • NETC Annual Research Program Schedule
    • Requests for Proposals
    • Research Problem Statements
    • Unfunded Research
    • Information for PI
    • NETC Webinars – Available Recordings and Presentations
  • Reports
    • Completed Research Project Reports
    • Completed Administrative Reports
  • Meetings
    • Advisory Committee Meetings
    • Symposiums
      • 2022 NETC Transportation Construction Symposium: Bridges and Pavements
      • 2021 Transportation Winter Maintenance Symposium
      • 2019 Symposium
  • Connect
    • Contact NETC
    • Mailing List
  • Member Area

21-3 Initiating Seed Production for Effective Establishment of Native Plants on Roadsides in New England

Project Objectives

The New England Transportation Consortium funded research to move the capacity of native plant establishment along roadsides from 2013-2016. This work trialed seed mixes and methods for establishment and developed a manual with 39 key species for the region identified. Various protocols for site preparation, seeding, and post establishment monitoring and maintenance were also provided. Following this work, a series of next steps were identified as critical for effective implementation. The most important step was the development of local seed sources, which are currently absent in the region. The shift towards planting native plants along roadsides has multiple benefits including: natural defense for invasive plants, habitat for common and rare pollinator species, and the potential to reduce maintenance needs over time. Pollinators play an important role in this country’s agricultural system as well as in maintaining healthy natural ecosystems.

The problem at hand in the New England is the lack of a native seed mix to use in the roadside habitat that includes important species for pollinators. Also, we do not have a consolidated library of best management practices for roadside management to promote pollinators that apply directly to the climate and conditions in the New England.

This project will include two main efforts. First, it will investigate and develop a list of currently available resources for native seed and plant stock throughout the New England region to understand what is currently available. The study will focus on the list of plant species identified in the 2016 New England Transportation Consortium (NETC) study by the University of Connecticut, “Effective Establishment of Native Grasses on Roadsides in New England” (NETC, 2016), as they are known to suitable to the region and are valuable to pollinators throughout the entire growing season of New England. Once an understanding of what is/is not available, the study will look at ways to increase availability of seeds throughout New England. The study will use gathered information on seed stock to draft a plan for developing a native seed source or sources appropriate for use along New England roadsides. The project would also include proof of concept for developing capacity for local seed source and production for the region.

Technical Committee Members

  • TC Chair: Arin Mills, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
  • Adam Boone, Connecticut Department of Transportation
  • Tara Mitchell, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
  • Rebecca Martin, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
  • Susan Votta, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
  • Heather Voisin, Vermont Agency of Transportation

AC Liaison: Dee Nash, New Hampshire Department of Transportation

Project Coordinator: Kirsten Seeber, CTC & Associates

Primary Sidebar

Key Details

Project Number: 21-3

Start Date: 5/18/2022

Completion Date: 6/30/2024

Status: Active

Principal Investigator: Julia Kuzovkina, University of Connecticut

Final Products

Task Reports

Quarterly Reports

  • 2022 Q4 Report (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 
  • 2022 Q3 Report (Jul 1 - Sep 30) 
  • 2022 Q2 Report (Apr 1 - Jun 30) 

Copyright © 2023 · New England Transportation Consortium · Log in