• EEA 2011
• EEA 2009
• EEA 2007
• EEA 2005
• EEA 2003
• EEA 2001
• EEA 1999
• EEA 1997

2001 Environmental Excellence Awards

Excellence in Scenic Byways

The Prairie shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia) is a Minnesota state endangered plant found in the Highway 56 right-of-way in Mower County.

Prairie Visions Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Minnesota Department of Transportation

Right-of-way vegetation along U.S. Highway 56 contains some of the best remnant native prairie in southern Minnesota. In 1981, a population of Prairie Shooting Star was found in the right-of-way. This population was the only known location for this species in the state. By working together, management practices were adapted to protect the Shooting Star and to enhance the prairie vegetation along the route. Mowing and use of herbicides have been reduced and substituted with periodic controlled burns that are conducted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with local fire departments. The efforts of these agencies, along with the local communities and local volunteers have protected the prairie. The scenic byway has provided travelers with a historic, cultural, and natural resource in which they can view the agricultural landscape, which was shaped by the tallgrass prairies. This cooperative venture shows how a community can preserve its natural and historic resources while creating a diverse, sustainable economy based on transportation, agriculture, tourism, and small businesses.

Oak savanna and praire remnant	Project Contributors Prairie Visions Eileen Hutchins, President Margie Meier, Secretary Fire Departments ­ LeRoy, Adams, Rose Creek Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Kathryn Bolin, Region 5 State Parks Craig Blommer, Region 5 Trails and Waterways Peter Schafer, Region 4 Wildlife Minnesota Department of Transportation Barb Bauer, Office of Environmental Services Carrol Evans, District 6B Dale Fleming, District 6B Dale Shaw, District 6B
Here the story of the North American Prairie and the deep rich soil that it created comes together in the travelers eye where the prairie and the agricultural crops meet.