Linn County plants approximately 100-150 acres of native prairie plantings annually along public road rights-of-way through its roadside vegetation program. Many of the projects are part of and funded in part by the Iowa Living Roadways program and the federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP).
Benefits of roadside vegetation:
• Provides weed and erosion control
• Reduces surface runoff and erosion by improving infiltration• Reduces snow drifting and glare
• Provides food and habitats for butterflies, birds and other wildlife and pollinators• Increases species diversity
• Adds beauty to the landscape• Preserves our natural heritage
Pictured below:
An employee in Linn County’s Secondary Road Department Roadside division touches up a permanent seeding in the floodway along Cedar River Road in Linn County. The plantings include native wetland species.
The flowers in bloom are along the “Seedling Mile” section of Mount Vernon Road (the Old Lincoln Highway). A bumblebee is enjoying the butterfly milkweed.
