Pollinator Habitat at Airports Scott Lucas Ohio Department of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Pollinator Habitat at Airports

Scott Lucas

Ohio Department of Transportation presenting on behalf of : Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative

What is the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative?

• Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative (OPHI) began in 2015.
• The purpose of the initiative:
• Create and improve pollinator habitat across the State of Ohio.
• Increase and improve pollinator conservation and awareness.
• The motto is: “All you can, where you can.”
• The group has a large number of partners.

• Pheasants Forever
• Ohio Division of Wildlife
• US Fish and Wildlife Service
• Ohio Department of Agriculture
• Various Soil and Water

Conservation Districts

• And many more…

Partners

Why would you want to plant pollinator habitat at an airport?

• Reduce the number of large bird strikes with

planes

• Large birds like Canada geese and different species
• f gulls tend to avoid tall grass
• Reduction in carbon footprint
• Prairies absorb about 1 metric ton of carbon per

acre according to experts.

• Save mowing costs
• Once established, prairies only need mowed once a

year

• Last but not least, create habitat for

pollinators

What are the costs for establishing a warm season grass pasture?

The initial cost of establishing a warm season grass pasture per acre estimates16:

• Seed costs: $240/ acre17
• Site prep (tillage): $8-20/ acre (average = $14/ acre)
• Site prep (herbicide): $3-13/ acre (average = $8/ acre)
• Seeding costs $10-50/ acre (average = $30/ acre)
• Weed management $8-27/ acre (average = $18/ acre)
• TOTAL COSTS $310 / a cre

16 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, “Incorporating Prairies into Multifunctional Landscapes.” August

2011.

17 Estimated price of $240/ acre for seed provided by Pheasants Forever.

Are there grants available for planting pollinator habitat?

Opportunities for receiving grants could be available through:

• NOAA’s grant program
• https:/ / grantsonline.rdc.noaa.gov/ flows/ home/ Login/ LoginController.jpf
• Partnerships with not-for-profit organizations
• Not-for-profit organizations can apply for grants that for-profit organizations

cannot apply for

• Ohio EPA Educational Program
• http:/ / www.epa.ohio.gov/ oeef/ EnvironmentalEducation.aspx
• OPHI has resources available for project specific grant programs
• http:/ / www.ophi.info/

Who has planted pollinator plots at airports?

The Dayton International Airport has multiple plantings:

• 270 acres of tall Native Warm

Season Grass Prairies

• Switchgrass Plots
• Agricultural fields
• Airfield turf

Who do I contact if I want to look into planting pollinator habitat at m y airport?

Dayton International Airport plantings: Mike Cross at 937-623-8343 MCross@flydayton.com ODOT’s involvement in pollinator plantings: Scott Lucas at 614-644-6603 Scott.Lucas@dot.ohio.gov OPHI statewide: Marci Lininger at 614-416-8993 ex: 27 Marci_Lininger@fws.gov

Thank you for your tim e.