Encouraging pollinator activity at Scatter Creek Rest Area

National Pollinator Week a great time to check in on progress being made

By Ann Briggs

A couple years ago, we talked about our integrated vegetation management software as a method of supporting pollinators and encouraging a more healthy ecosystem round our state highways.



One of the tasks we highlighted at that point was our work round the Scatter Creek Rest Area on I-5 north of Centralia. By limiting mowing operations, we permit local crops return to type a meadow, offering habitat for local pollinators distinctive to that ecosystem.

Solitary bees have been one of the main pollinators we’ve observed at the Scatter Creek Rest Area.

With National Pollinator Week June 17-21, it is a nice time to verify in at the progress.



In September 2018, we planted 39 species of local vegetation in three seed mixes, with species overlap amongst the mixes. Our purpose is to evaluation seed mixes and website practise remedies to resolve which blend will establish pollinator-friendly plant conceal for use on roadsides and at construction sites.

Left: A hover fly finds a good spot to check out near the I-5 Scatter Creek Rest Area. Right: Empid flies like this have been a frequent visitor to the meadow area near the Scatter Creek Rest Area.

We had a quite chilly spring in 2019, adopted by means of way of an strange warm and dry interval in April whilst a few of those crops have been start to germinate. As of overdue May, at the very least 10 species of crops had germinated from the seed mixes – a few have been no longer yet at a degree the place we might name the species. Within the 29 experiment plots, we recognized 35 crops in total, adding 10 local plant species from the seed mixes, which shows there are nonetheless many seeds final from past crops regardless of our efforts to take away them. The most normal species from the seed mixes have been Roemer's fescue (Festuca roemeri), massive blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia grandiflora), and lupine (Lupinus bicolor).

By limiting our mowing to encourage growth of native plans, we’re working to produce a healthier
ecosystem for pollinators at the rest area near Scatter Creek along I-5.

The majority of pollinators we located are "generalists" visiting any flowers which might be available. As one species of plant blooms out, the pollinators change to different species which might be birth to bloom. We also located shifts within the abundance and range of pollinators over time. In past due May, the dominant pollinator teams have been solitary bees, hover flies, and empid flies. In mid-June, dominant pollinator teams have been honeybees, solitary bees, and hover flies.



This is essential work that our environmental crew is doing. Evaluating this and different components will take a few time but we are committed to supporting inspire wholesome ecosystems for pollinators as side of our roadside management program. We will hold to degree equally plant and pollinator job during the summer.