Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group

habitat conservation + working landscapes

A close-up image of a bee hovering near a vibrant pink flower, surrounded by green foliage, highlighting the importance of pollinators in nature.

Resources library

This online library is a clearinghouse of tools and information related to habitat on rights-of-way and other lands. From seed mix calculators to mowing guidelines and everything in between, you’ll find it here.

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Illustration depicting the 5 Generation Annual Cycle of monarch butterflies across North America, showing migration routes and breeding areas. The map highlights key locations and directional arrows indicating the flow of butterfly populations throughout the year.

Monarchs and Roadsides: A Research Update – April 19, 2018

Case Studies and Research, Webinars

This webinar highlights current research by Monarch Joint Venture, Oklahoma State University, and Iowa State University on investigating roadside habitat for monarch butterflies. Alison Cariveau, Kristen Baum, Tyler Grant, Teresa Blader, and Anuj Sharma present topics including roadside milkweed response to mowing, facilitated milkweed density monitoring, and machine learning to improve milkweed identification.

Two vibrant monarch butterflies perched on a pink echinacea flower in a lush garden setting, showcasing their striking orange and black wings amidst green foliage and colorful wildflowers.

Monarchs & Roadsides: Mowing Practices Webinar – June 27, 2018

Case Studies and Research, Webinars

This webinar presents three perspectives on mowing practices along roadsides and how they impact monarch butterflies and their habitat. Presenters are Edward Entsminger, Mississippi State University; Stephanie Dobbs, Illinois Department of Transportation; and Doug Landis, Michigan State University.

Alt text: Banner for the Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group event, featuring images of a butterfly, power lines, and natural landscapes. Event details include date (October 24-26, 2018) and location (University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago, IL). Registration link provided.

An Overview and Update on the Nationwide Monarch CCAA – September 20, 2018

Webinars

The Nationwide Monarch CCAA for Energy and Transportation Lands presents an unprecedented opportunity to facilitate conservation actions for monarchs across the nation. Through the current partnership of more than two dozen energy and transportation organizations, members of the Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group are undertaking one of the largest scale CCAAs to date and under one of the fastest timelines pursued to develop this conservation agreement.

Image depicting the effects of incomplete pollination on various fruits and crops, including strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples, and cucumbers. Highlights the statistic that 70% of crops are affected, leading to economic losses in the hundreds of billions annually.

Pollinator Friendly Solar: Setting State Standards – October 4, 2018

Webinars

This webinar presents an overview of state standards for solar pollinator habitat across the United States. Webinar presenters share their perspectives on the development of these standards, coordination among stakeholders, unique considerations by state, and experiences with their implementation.

Dairyland Power Cooperative overview, highlighting its wholesale power distribution to 24 member cooperatives and 17 municipal utilities, serving over 600,000 people. The image includes a map of the service area across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois, with data on energy generating resources from 2017, including coal (64%), wind and solar (19%), natural gas (5%), and other renewables (3%). It also mentions the planned Nemadji Trail Energy Center for 2025

Pollinator Habitat in Practice: Case Studies from Rural Electric Cooperatives – November 7, 2018

Case Studies and Research, Webinars

This webinar presents two perspectives on how rural electric cooperatives are building pollinator habitat programs into their everyday operations.

Alt text: List of presenters for an environmental conference, including Joel Hunt (Program Administrator, Ohio DOT), Megan Michael (Environmental Specialist, Ohio DOT), and Michael Retterer (Conservation Biologist, Pheasants Forever), with a background of butterflies and logos from various organizations.

Conservation Mowing: A Roadside Vegetation Management Strategy in Ohio – December 11, 2018

Case Studies and Research, Webinars

This webinar presents the conservation mowing techniques implemented by the Ohio Department of Transportation to provide pollinator habitat on its rights-of-way, including reduced mowing frequency and strategic herbicide use.