The fifth meeting of the Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group was hosted by the Energy Resources Center at the University of Illinois-Chicago on October 26 and 27, 2017. See the list of meeting attendees here.
The focus for the fifth meeting was Creating the Business Case for Habitat Programs. Working Group participants have contributed to a DETAILED OUTLINE of benefits and challenges to restoring and managing habitat on rights-of-way and other energy and transportation landscapes. Ultimately, this white paper is intended to provide organizations with resources and information to streamline the identification, demonstration, and strengthening of business case arguments for habitat programs. However, additional information is needed in a number of areas, both in the benefits and challenges sections.
We welcome any information (e.g., comments, case studies, resources, feedback) to include or reference in the white paper. Please send suggestions or comments to Iris Caldwell at iriscald@uic.edu.
Copies of presentations are posted below as they are available. The full meeting agenda can be found here.
Pollinators and People
André Copeland, Chicago Zoological Society
Video Presentation
White Paper: Creating the Business Case for Habitat on Rights-of-Way
Kristine Nemec, UNI Tallgrass Prairie Center
Iris Caldwell, UIC Energy Resource Center
Business Case Handout
Video Presentation
The Business Case for IVM on Electric Transmission ROW
John Goodfellow, BioCompliance Consulting
Video Presentation
Vegetation Economics: Herbicides vs Mowing
Matt Kraushar, Indiana DOT
Video Presentation
Panel: Addressing Regulatory Uncertainty
Video Presentation
Reducing Uncertainty by Increasing Conservation
Parker Moore, Beveridge and Diamond
Assurance Options and Innovative Ways to Get Them Faster
Timothy Male, Environmental Policy Innovation Center
Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances
Lori Nordstrom, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Mitigating for Species and Resource Impacts: Traditional Options and New Approaches
Randy Wilgis, Resource Environmental Solutions
Video Presentation
Potential Agricultural Benefits of Pollinator Habitat at Utility-Scale Solar Facilities
Lee Walston, Argonne National Laboratory
Video Presentation
Wetland Restoration for Multiple Benefits: Harvesting Cattail for Biodiversity
Andrew Monks, Loyola University Chicago
Opportunities and Challenges in Supporting Invasive Plant Activities
Mark Renz, University of Wisconsin-Madison & Midwest Invasive Plant Network
Video Presentation
North Central Integrated Pest Management Center – Program/Resources
Lynnae Jess, Michigan State University
Video Presentation
Ohio DOT Case Study
Joel Hunt, Ohio DOT
Video Presentation
The ROI and Sweet PR of Pollinator Habitat at Utility-Scale Solar Facilities
Rob Davis, Fresh Energy
Video Presentation
IVM to Improve Access, Reliability, Habitat, Economics, and Public Relations
Rick Johnstone, IVM Partners
Video Presentation