Christopher Peltz chris@researchservicesco.com

Landscape Design Manual & Plant Selection Guide for Colorado Roadways

Good Information + Experience +

Multiple Perspectives

= Better Decisions

250 species of forbs

200 species of grasses

52 species of shrub/sub-shrub

6 species of vines

http://plants.usda.gov

Colorful Colorado!

Development Philosophy “CDOT’s approach to transportation design requires that there be a direct relationship between the proposed design and the place it will be located “site context”. Defining design zones are critical to creating a relationship between transportation and landscape, while maintaining a consistent approach to design throughout the state.”

• Site Context – Physical, Climatic, Biological factors.

• Transportation/Landscape – Visual resources, Safety, Maintenance.

• Can this help the CDOT have better projects?

• Evolution

Purpose Define the geographic extents of the physical, biological, and ecological zones of Colorado and use this information to improve restoration efforts by optimizing the plant selection process. Goal Develop a geographic dataset, based on all State of Colorado route mile markers, and, associate specific land-use, climatic and biologic attributes to each markers location. Format • Plant Selection Guide • Spatial data (ESRI and Google Earth) • Work flow/methods

Where to begin?

Biogeography: Step 1 – Topography, Latitude, Continentality (climatography)

Biogeography: Step 2 – Climate (average and total precipitation)

Biogeography: Step 2 – Climate (average and minimum temperature)

Biogeography – Large Scale

Biogeography – Small Scale

Land-use/Land-cover

Database

Utilization and

Revision Cycle

“Gauntlet”

1. Review data from associated mile markers.

2. Review geospatial data and associated landscape features in ArcGIS or Google Earth.

3. Utilize Google Earth/Google Street View to confirm site description.

4. Consider site level controls and revise plant species list based on expected soils or adjacent land-uses.

5. Based on location information develop species list “Plant Palette” from Ecotype.

6. Review plant descriptions in database to confirm that selected species will be appropriate for the project goals and site conditions.

7. Share potential species list with Agricultural Extension Agent, State Forest or Forest Service Botanist, regional seed suppliers, and/or other groups with vested interests.

8. Revise/append plant species list based on micro-site factors.

9. Collect/record site specific information gained during project development and implementation.

10. Incorporate final seed selection and all site information as well as any other information developed through the project phase back into the database.

Description Data

County Saguache

Highway/ Mile Maker(s) 285/ 2346

Site Location UTM UTM X - 399500.06, UTM Y - 4202812.55

Site Elevation 7596

Watershed Saguache River

Planning Region 8

Engineering Region 5

EcoRegion Level I North American Deserts

EcoRegion Level II Cold Deserts

EcoRegion Level III Arizona/ New Mexico Plateau

EcoRegion Level IV Salt Flats

Rock Type Alluvium

Local Cover Description Agriculture

Weed Species of Concern NA

Average Annual Precipitation (in) 7

Average Annual Minimum Temp (0F) 18

Ecotype – Temperature Cool

Ecotype – Precipitation Dry

Ecotype – Elevation Mid-Elevation

Site Location – San Luis Valley, State Highway 285.

Project Goal Year 2: A healthy, diverse and self-sustaining ground cover.

Project Goal Year 5. No significant evidence of previous disturbance.

San Luis Shrublands and Hills

Higher relief foothill edges and low mountain areas within the basin. It includes the San Luis Hills in the southwest, a rugged mass of hills and tilted mesas. The hills are composed of andesitic volcanic rock and are 500 to 1,000 feet higher than the adjacent ecoregions of the Arizona/New Mexico Plateau.

Vegetation communities represent a transition from the grassland and desert communities of the lower basin to the woodland species found in the surrounding foothills of the Southern Rockies.

Big sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and winterfat occur, as well as grasslands of western wheatgrass, green needlegrass, blue grama, and needle-and-thread. Areas of pinyon-juniper are found on the tops of the San Luis Hills.

San Luis Alluvial Flats and Wetlands

8 to 10 inches of precipitation.

Generally, the soils of this region tend to be less alkaline than the soils of the Salt Flat ecoregion.

Increased salt accumulation in soils and groundwater depletion are problems associated with irrigation and the competing uses of available water.

Species Type Cultivar Ecotype Ranking

Andropogon gerardii Grass Rountree Cool Wet 6

Aster alpinus Aster VNS Cool Wet 4

Panicum virgatum Grass Shelter Cool Wet 3

Panicum virgatum Grass Kanlow Cool Wet 2

Armeria maritima Leadwort VNS Cool Wet 1

Apios americana Pea VNS Cool Wet 0

Pascopyrum smithii Grass Arriba Cool Dry 6

Bouteloua gracilis Grass Hachita Cool Dry 6

Sporobolus airoides Grass Saltalk Cool Dry 6

Bouteloua gracilis Grass Alma Cool Dry 5

Ipomopsis aggregata Phlox VNS Cool Dry 5

Agropyron cristatum Grass Abruzzes Cool Dry 4

Agropyron cristatum Grass SD Common Cool Dry 4

Bouteloua eriopoda Grass Sonora Cool Dry 3

Bouteloua eriopoda Grass Nogal Cool Dry 3

Andropogon hallii Grass Cherry Cool Dry 3

Andropogon hallii Grass Elida Cool Dry 3

Geranium viscosissimum Geranium VNS Cool Dry 0

Where is the site?

What are the project goals?

Challenges/Opportunities

Select Plants

Monitor

Revise as new information is available

Process is Important

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Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSAT) Tree Species Selection

Purpose Develop a species list and design criteria for standalone vegetative barriers and vegetation barriers located adjacent to sound barriers using regionally appropriate trees and other vegetation types to reduce the impacts of Mobile-Source Air Toxics (MSATs).

Core Questions

1. What are the primary pathways of near-roadway air pollution and how can vegetation disrupt or divert these pathways?

2. What are the important characteristics of vegetation as it relates to air pollution mitigation?

3. What are some of the trade-offs of using vegetation for air pollution mitigation?

4. If vegetation is included as a mitigation strategy what is the expected performance?

5. Could there be co-benefits of using vegetation and if so what are the primary ones?

Key Findings

1. Living barriers can reduce airborne particulates through surface capture, deposition and dispersion.

2. Conifers are superior to deciduous trees for overall particulate removal because of their year round foliage, greater amounts leaf and stem surface area per unit of land and smaller boundary layer thickness.

3. Most studies show vegetation pollution removal at the scale of a city or region is likely less than 2%.

4. Vegetation is only a temporary retention site for most atmospheric particles. Most particles often re-suspend into the atmosphere, wash off with rain, or drop to the ground with twig and leaf fall.

MSAT Tree Species List – Use and Application

Step 1. Project Location

• Eco-regional context • Constraints/Opportunities • Species List

Step 2. Ranking System

1. Is the species Native to Colorado (yes = 1, no = 0) 2. Does the species have full length foliate (yes = 1, no = 0) 3. What are the water needs of the species (low = -1, high = -6) 4. What is the foliage’s porosity (low =1, high = 3) 5. What is the foliage’s texture (porous = 1, coarse = 3) 6. Does the tree retain its foliage (yes = 1, no = 2) 7. What is the species lifespan (short =1, long = 3) 8. How drought tolerant is the species (low = 1, high = 3) 9. What is the species fertility requirement (low = -1 =, high = -3) 10. What is the species moisture requirement (low = -1, high = -3) 11. What is the species salinity tolerance (low = 1, high = 3)

Genus/Species Common Variety Ranking Juniperus scopulorum Rocky Mountain Juniper Table Top Blue 16

Juniperus scopulorum Rocky Mountain Juniper Woodward 16

Juniperus osteosperma Utah Juniper VNS 15

Pinus ponderosa Ponderosa Pine VNS 15

Cercocarpus ledifolius Curl Leaf Mountain Mahogany VNS 14

Pinus mugo Mugo Pine Mops 14

Pinus mugo Mugo Pine White Bud 14

Pinus mugo Mugo Pine Slowmound 14

Pinus mugo Mugo Pine Pumilio 14

Pinus mugo Mugo Pine Big Tuna 14

Cercocarpus montanus Alderleaf Mountain Mahogany Montane 13

Pinus edulis Pinyon pine VNS 13

Pinus flexilis Limber pine VNS 13

Pinus flexilis Limber pine Vanderwolf’s 13

Pinus heldreichii leucodermis Bosnian Pine VNS 13

Pinus mugo Mugo pine Mugo pine 13

Pinus mugo Mugo pine Tannenbaum 13

Pinus nigra Austrian Pine Hornibrookiana 13

Pinus sylvestris Scotch Pine Albyn Prostrata 13

Pyracantha coccinea Scarlet Firethorn VNS 13

Syringa reticulata Japanese Tree Lilac VNS 13

Picea glauca White Spruce Densata 12

Pinus sylvestris Scotch Pine Hillside Creeper 12

Pinus sylvestris Scotch Pine Glauca Nana 12

Pinus sylvestris Scotch Pine Pumila 12

Platycladus orientalis Golden Arborvitae Aurea Nana 12

Pinus densiflora Japanese Red Pine Umbraculifera 11

Pinus monticola Western White Pine VNS 11

Taxus cuspidata Japanese Yew Capatita 11