Iowa counties receive prairie seed


County personnel from around the state traveled to the Tallgrass Prairie Center in early May to pick up Iowa Ecotype prairie seed for roadside plantings. The seed was purchased by the IRVM Program Office with funds obtained through the federal Transportation Enhancement (TE) program. A total of 20,000 pounds of native seed was divided among forty-three Iowa counties and will plant approximately 1,200 acres of road right-of-way. The IRVM program office is funded by the Living Roadway Trust Fund.
 
 
 
Roadside Opportunities

The native grasses and wildflowers of Iowa’s original prairie landscape are well-adapted for use on roadsides. Hardy and beautiful, native roadsides offer aesthetic, economic, environmental, and educational opportunities. Establishing prairie plants in roadside rights-of-way:
 
  • provides low-maintenance weed and erosion control
  • reduces surface runoff and erosion by improving infiltration
  • reduces snow drifting and winter glare
  • ensures sustainability by increasing species diversity
  • enhances wildlife habitat
  • beautifies the landscape by providing
    ever changing color and texture
    throughout the year
  • preserves our natural heritage

Support Iowa's Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program

The state of Iowa invests in the enhancement and protection of its natural and cultural resources through REAP. The annual REAP appropriation is set each year by the legislature, and is supplemented by sales of natural resource license plates. The Living Roadway Trust Fund is one of many beneficiaries of the program.  Iowa citizens are the biggest beneficiaries, and have several opportunities to ensure REAP's success. Visit REAP to learn more, or click the license plate for information about purchasing natural resource plates.
 

 
Click here to view this native Iowa plant life.
  Scientific Name:
    Tephrosia virginiana

  Common Name:
    Goat's Rue

  Height:
    1-2'

  Bloom Month:
    Jun Jul

  Bloom Color:
    Pink



View and print the 2008 Wildflower Calendar