Planning for Encounters with Special Management Areas: Characterization, Management Approaches, and Syntheses

Smith, Elliott; Zinnen, Jack; Janssen, Eric; Marcum, Paul; Schelsky, Wendy; Zaya, David

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/128882 Copy

Description

Title

Planning for Encounters with Special Management Areas: Characterization, Management Approaches, and Syntheses

Author(s)

• Smith, Elliott
• Zinnen, Jack
• Janssen, Eric
• Marcum, Paul
• Schelsky, Wendy
• Zaya, David

Issue Date

2025-06

Keyword(s)

• Endangered Species
• Herbicides
• Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management
• Mowing
• Roadside Management
• Threatened Species

Date of Ingest

2025-06-30T12:06:16-05:00

Abstract

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) manages land with considerable conservation value. Some IDOT roadways contain, or are near, special management areas (SMAs): places that have legal protection, are habitat for species with legal protection, or contain valuable biodiversity. Although SMAs are important for IDOT’s environmental objectives, historically, IDOT has addressed the management of SMAs on an as-needed basis with no broad-scale management plan or characterizations. We investigated SMAs on or near IDOT property, aiming to compile information and to help set the stage for a cohesive management strategy. We used mapping, policy and literature review, and a survey of roadside stakeholders to better understand SMAs and their management. We identified over 8,000 SMAs across Illinois on or near IDOT roadways. Municipal parks, habitat with protected species, and Illinois Natural Areas Inventory sites were the most frequent SMA types. SMAs tended to consist of forest, grassland, or wetland habitats that were geographically concentrated in northeastern and southern Illinois. We received survey responses from stakeholders across 20 states. The most reported practices for managing SMAs included mowing, herbicide application, native seeding, and brush/tree cutting. Participants noted the difficulty of controlling invasive plants, insufficient funding, logistical constraints, and limited staffing as obstacles to achieving management objectives. We created a template of best management practices—conventional sets of practices that are effective for conserving sensitive biological resources. We overview frequently encountered scenarios in common natural areas encountered by IDOT and provide suggested management practices based on the literature and survey responses. Broadly, we suggest management can be improved by carefully timing activities, hiring or training specialized staff, communicating spatial information on SMAs, and considering a prevention-based rather than reactive management doctrine. Our efforts can be a foundation for more detailed best management practices and formulation of an integrated roadside vegetation management plan.

Publisher

Illinois Center for Transportation/Illinois Department of Transportation

Has Part

ISSN: 0197-9191

Series/Report Name or Number

FHWA-ICT-25-008

Type of Resource

text

Genre of Resource

technical report

Language

eng

DOI

https://doi.org/10.36501/0197-9191/25-008

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

IDOT-R27-SP69

Copyright and License Information

No restrictions. This document is available through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.

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