Evaluation of salvage and replanted native plants on ADOT projects.

Details

• Creators:
  Mielke, Judy ; Curella, Tisha ; James, Jenni ; Colebank, Wayne
• Corporate Creators:
  Logan Simpson Design, Inc.
• Corporate Contributors:
  Arizona. Department of Transportation ; United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Vegetation
  • Native plants
  • Salvage
  • Vegetation control
  • Landscape maintenance
  • Saguaro
  • Carnegiea gigantea
  • Native plants
  • Salvage
  • Transplant
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA-AZ-12-587
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Arizona
• Edition:
  Final report.
• Corporate Publisher:
  Arizona. Department of Transportation
• Abstract:
  ADOT has transplanted thousands of saguaros during the construction of roadway projects, and although ; the projects are typically tracked for two years, the long-term survivability of saguaros has never been ; documented. The purpose of this study is to examine ADOT projects in which saguaros were transplanted ; as part of the revegetation effort, and to evaluate the factors that contribute to the survival and good health ; of saguaros. The development of more successful techniques for salvaging saguaros will help ensure the ; long-term viability of transplanted saguaros and will enable ADOT to spend monies more effectively. Four ; projects involving saguaro salvage and replanting were selected for evaluation: State Route 86 Covered ; Wells, State Route 87 Tombstone Hill, State Route 188 Resort Road to Devore Wash, and US Route 93 ; Kaiser Spring. The projects occurred over a broad geographic area, with elevations ranging from 2,018 to ; 3,190 feet. ; An inventory of all saguaros, both alive and dead, was conducted in 2008. Each plant was assigned a ; number, its location was recorded using GPS equipment, a photograph was taken, and information was ; recorded regarding plant size and health and surrounding environmental conditions. Consistent among ; the four projects inventoried was the finding that the taller saguaros had a lower survival rate and exhibited ; poorer health after transplantation. Saguaros up to 12 feet in height typically exhibited good health. A ; sharp decrease in the percentage of plants in good health was observed in the 12-foot-plus saguaros, and ; particularly in the 20-foot-plus size. The presence of arms had a negative effect on saguaro survivability ; and overall health, an observation that held true for all the projects. A third variable affecting saguaro ; survivability and health was planting depth. A marked decrease in health was observed among saguaros ; that did not exhibit taper at the base of the plant, an indication that the saguaro was planted too deep. ; Recommendations are discussed regarding saguaro salvage and replanting techniques.
  More +
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  ADOT contract: T0749A0029 ; FHWA program: SPR-PL-1(67)
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/24514/dot_24514_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.22 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:7e234910d2f614cf769d78852aa1188514f713a4927b1fba8caae24a1938f82b