UNI's Tallgrass Prairie Center supports Iowa's roadside vegetation

As you drive across Iowa this summer, look no further than the side of the road for another way UNI is meeting Iowa's needs.

For the last 30 years, UNI's Tallgrass Prairie Center program, Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM), has been providing technical assistance, training and education to Iowa's county roadside programs. Originally developed in response to the need for surface water protection, these strong, weed-resistant plant communities adapt to all roadside conditions and provide a variety of benefits, including enhancing rainfall infiltration, slowing runoff, trapping sediment, reducing erosion, and creating habitat for pollinators, nesting birds and other wildlife.

In addition to providing a variety of resources to Iowa's county roadside programs, UNI's IRVM program also provides guidance and support to counties establishing new IRVM programs. IRVM also strengthens the statewide IRVM network through partnerships with the Iowa Department of Transportation and other agencies.