2009 Environmental Excellence Awards

For Excellence in Roadside Resource Management and Maintenance: Nebraska Department of Roads - Plan for the Roadside Environment

Agencies Awarded

Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR)

NDOR's Plan for the Roadside Environment promotes the increased use of native plantings and vegetation management to provide a sustainable roadside. The plan emphasizes the use of native plantings adapted specifically to the varying climate zones across the State. It contains sections for each of the six landscape regions across Nebraska. Each individual landscape section contains regional maps and summarizes a variety of ecosystem information for the region, including hydrology, climate, and soil and plant communities, as well as regional-history, land-use, and economic features. The plan is applicable to the entire State and includes landscaping objectives for integration into transportation planning, safety, design, and operation of the system. The informational base benefits NDOR and natural resource agencies concerning the role of the roadside environment and how to achieve good stewardship and maintenance of a unique and sustainable "Nebraska-style" landscape.

Project Contributors:

NDOR

Arthur Thompson

Cynthia Veys

Ronald Poe

Alison Krohn

Carol Wienhold

Photo of a road showing Nebraska Department of Road's effort to re-introduce native roadside vegetation. Second image is a map of the NDOR area where project was conducted.

Roadside