Transcript HIRING A CONSULTANT/PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Airside Vegetation Strategies
AirTAP Fall Forum 2014
What are your vegetation
problems?
Accumulation of sand and soil on edges
Winter kill
Erosion on runway edges
Vegetation that attracts wildlife
Woody vegetation: knowing what trees to
remove?
Accumulation of sand and soil on
edges
 Vacuum Turf
 Vacuuming removes the
overburden of soil left
from winter
 Remove bristles or
remove some to a
spacing of 4-6 inches
Accumulation of sand and soil on
edges
Accumulation of sand and soil on
edges
Light broom and pick up
 Broom soil onto runway edge,
and then remove with a
sweeper
 This maintains edge drop and
reduces buildup on runway
edges
 Or simply dethatch with light
brooming
Winter Kill
Use a contractor, local
farmer, or agency equipment
to do one of these:
1. Disc lightly to break up
hardpan, compacted crust
2. Till lightly to aerate soil
3. Track with skid steer
attachments
4. Rent aerator or other lawn
tool
Winter Kill
Rejuvenate the soil:
1. After discing, broadcast soil amendments
(first, get your soil tested by local
extension office!!)
2. It is likely missing Nitrogen (or maybe
Phosphorus), so replace with standard 1010-10 blend at 100 lbs/acre
3. Add “Tazo”, a bacteria that feeds the soil
(also available as “Boost” or others)
link http://terramax.co/products/tazo-st/
Winter Kill
Rejuvenate the soil:
1. After discing, broadcast soil amendments
(first, get your soil tested by local
extension office!!)
2. It is likely missing Nitrogen (or maybe
Phosphorus), so replace with standard 1010-10 blend at 100 lbs/acre
3. Add “Tazo”, a bacteria that feeds the soil
(also available as “Boost” or others)
http://terramax.co/products/tazo-st/
Winter Kill
Seed mix overseed
 Use commercial turf grass at 220 lbs/acre
 $1,200/acre including seed costs
 Use MnDOT Mix 25-131
Low maintenance turf
Non-native grasses
Some salt tolerances
Up to 12” tall
Drought resistance
Mow once/3 weeks
Erosion on Runway Edges
If addressing winter kill, mulch area after seeding!
Want to get to green ASAP; this holds moisture
and prevents fire danger. Use fiber mulch that
sticks to soil.
For mulch:
 Stabilized Fiber Matrix (SFM) MnDOT spec. 3884.2B3
 With poor soils, use Hydraulic Compost Matrix
(Verdyol black mulch or hydromulch)
Erosion on Runway Edges
Mulch costs:
 Blanket $2.00/sy
 Stabilized Fiber Mulch
$1.55/sy
 Hydropost $1.35/sy
Partner with local agencies
for equipment and labor
Vegetation that attracts wildlife
All grasses are attractive to
wildlife, so species is not an
issue (natives get a bad name)
Eliminate or relocate wetlands
near airports
Consider ways to increase
habitat for small pollinators
(bees and butterflies)
Environmental Stewardship
Butterfly gardening:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yardgarden/landscaping/butterfly-gardening/
Creating a butterfly garden:
 http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yardgarden/landscaping/butterflygardening/creating-a-butterfly-garden/
Woody Vegetation in Approach
 Rick Braunig presented on this
during the 2012 Fall Forum at
Mankato
 MnDOT identifies obstructions
every 3 years
 MnDOT Aeronautics will assist,
but simple surveying techniques
are also available to determine tree
height and encroachment into
approach
Woody Vegetation
 Start by staking the area in plan view
 Conduct one survey and tie ribbon on trees that are
getting close
 Monitor the tree heights with GIS or simple database
 Develop an ANNUAL maintenance plan
 Trimming guidance:
Roadside Vegetation
Handbook by LTAP (p.33)
http://www.lrrb.org/media/reports/200019.pdf
Woody Vegetation
 Start by staking the area in plan view
 Conduct one survey and tie ribbon on trees that are
getting close
 Monitor the tree heights with GIS or simple database
 Develop an ANNUAL maintenance plan
 Trimming guidance:
Roadside Vegetation
Handbook by LTAP (p.33)
http://www.lrrb.org/media/reports/200019.pdf
Think outside the box:
For more information, call:
Dwayne Stenlund
Office of Environmental Stewardship
[email protected]
661-366-3625