FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2025
Black Hawk County Adopt a Roadside Prairie Program
Black Hawk County, IOWA – The Black Hawk County Road Department’s Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM) team is advancing its "Adopt a Roadside Prairie" program following a successful year-long pilot. This initiative creates partnerships with local landowners to establish and maintain native prairie habitats along county roadsides, promoting environmental sustainability and scenic beauty.
Currently, eight landowners are participating in the program, with nearly three acres of county roadsides dedicated to native prairie restoration. Through this collaboration, landowners and the county work together to enhance biodiversity, improve water infiltration, and prevent soil erosion while creating vibrant, natural landscapes along Black Hawk County roadways.
To qualify for the program, landowners must live along a county secondary road, and complete the Adopt a Roadside Prairie permit, and pay $50 for signs at each end of the established prairie.
As part of the agreement:
- IRVM staff provide herbicide treatments to control invasive species, seed native prairie plants, and offer technical support throughout the restoration process.
- Landowners are responsible for prescribed mowing during the first two years and conducting a controlled burn in the fourth or fifth year to maintain the prairie’s health.
“This program is a win-win for everyone involved,” said Griffin Cabalka, BHC Roadside Biologist. “Not only do these micro-prairies add natural beauty to our roadsides, but they also serve as critical wildlife habitats, natural water filters, and living snow fences that benefit our entire community.”
For more information on how to join the initiative and be part of this environmentally beneficial effort visit our website at: https://blackhawkcounty.iowa.gov/831/Adopt-a-Roadside-Prairie or contact the Black Hawk County Roadside Biologist at (319) 529-4004.
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Supplemental images can be downloaded here: https://blackhawkcounty.iowa.gov/DocumentCenter/Index/355