Peter Leete is an innovator and leader in transportation ecology. He works and lives in Minnesota, but his influence on ecological changes to the way transportation does its business extend through the North American continent. Here we describe two areas Peter has been leading the way in recent year, reducing the use of plastics in erosion control, and innovations to improve wildlife connectivity.
Peter has been championing for reduction of plastics and other toxics in erosion control products and practices for the past two decades. His work focuses on the state of Minnesota but has reached far beyond the boundaries of his state due to his active presence at ICOET and other conferences. Peter is one of the principal authors of a MnDOT phased plan to eliminate plastic in single-use erosion and sediment control products in 10 years. This plan proposes how MnDOT will support the development of biodegradable alternatives, transition to alternatives, and reduce the use of plastic products where alternatives do not exist. Peter’s engaging personality and dogged persistence is inspiring change within his state and well beyond.
Peter recently helped lead a FHWA sponsored peer exchange to help move the needle from DOT’s using single-use plastic products for erosion and sediment control towards an industry-wide change. Peter worked with his colleagues and peers to develop a three-day virtual conference: Reducing Plastics and Other Toxics from Erosion Control Products & Practices; A Nationwide Virtual Peer Exchange. The agenda also included summaries of locally sourced materials such as hemp and wool for possible inclusion into EPSC specifications and products. This free event occurred November 17 – 19, 2020, and reached over 150 participants from around the United States and Canada. Among those attending the event were DOT/DNR representatives from 22 different states; federal agency representatives from FHWA, VAAFM and Mn Dept of Ag, USF&WS, BLM, Parks Canada; researchers from The University of Vermont, Auburn University, University of Northern Iowa; representatives from World Bank, municipalities, non-profits, engineering firms, and EPSC product manufacturers and distributors. One of the most salient take-home messages from the three days is that there is a collective desire for continuous improvement and innovation in how we conduct EPSC work. Our hope is that these three days shed some light on the opportunities for advancing the state of the art and practice of EPSC, and that this dialog will continue. His vision on developing a critical mass towards this change will, in turn, inspire manufacturers and suppliers to demand more environmentally friendly products. Moreover, this movement can inspire research and further innovation.
This work is above and beyond the day-to-day regulatory compliance work he is engaged in at MnDOT. Peter has also been very involved over the years in increasing ecological connectivity via innovations related to bridges, culverts, and riprap. Specifically, Peter was instrumental in the development of the wildlife passage bench, which is now standard on all MnDOT bridges crossing public waters. A little more history on passage benches: https://www.wsbeng.com/wildlife-passage-bench/
Peter has also helped champion the development of aggregate surfacing specifications, which fill voids on riprap to facilitate wildlife movement and reduce entrapment of small animals in riprap voids (attached). Last, but not least, Peter has most recently been heavily involved in the development of the Minnesota Guide for Stream Connectivity and Aquatic Organism Passage Through Culverts, see: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/research/reports/2019/201902.pdf