The Save the Dunes Conservation Fund says a four-year old partnership with the Indiana Department of Transportation aimed at reducing roadside mowing is paying off.

Four years ago, the environmental group approached INDOT about reducing its roadside mowing beyond the 15 foot safety setback and replacing lawn with native trees, grasses and wildflowers. The SDCF said it was particularly interested in improving the aesthetics and creating wildlife habitat along U.S. 12 between the east and west units of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, in what is a heavily industrialized area.

INDOT provided trees from the state nursery, “no-mow” signs, and safety equipment. The agency also directed its mowing crews to mow only within 15 feet of the highway. SDCF in turn provided the volunteers to plant the trees.

On Friday of last week, the four-year anniversary of the partnership, SDCF volunteers planted 500 trees. To date, more than 2,000 trees have been planted in the corridor.

Since the project began, some rare native species, including lupine, are blooming for the first time since the ban on mowing has been enacted, the SDCF said.

The SDCF said the trees that have been planted will help combat air pollution, while giving wildlife a larger habitat corridor. Further, the plantings improve the aesthetics along the highway, which is currently under review as a possible national scenic highway.

Future plans call for expanding the project to other INDOT properties, including highway cloverleaves.

Posted 5/15/2008