Permaculture in city utility easements

I live adjacent to a flood plain which has numerous sewer line easements running through it, along a major creek. One pipeline just completed this past year is at least 60' wide, consisting of crappy concrete-like subsoil planted in rye which is now dead. I'd love to get the city (in NC) interested in a pollinator highway, urban foodscaping, wildlife corridor, etc. Maybe get neighborhood groups involved, other organizations too. Does anyone have any experience with this type project? Anyone tried guerrilla gardening in utility easements? I think this could also apply to power line easements and more. I'd love to hear your ideas... thank you!

I would check with the people involved it they used any toxic fairy dust. Next try talking to the city about the easement and what are there plans. I think any city would welcome a person or a group who would want to replant the area. As long as the city does not need to do the work.

My advise would be this.  Pick a high profile section of the easement (one easily showcased) and intensively gorilla garden it for a season.  Having a show case to 'enlighten' folks on the possibilities is a much easier sell than words or a brochure.   Target the city as well as any other stack holders, in addition to the general public through groups and organizations.  Then do a little geometric progression.  

Start an acre.  Show off the results and benefits.  Have a group take an acre on either side next season.  As you expand, so does your acreage in either direction.  If one can become three and three can become five...  Soon it will take a life of its own.

To get started (I believer your area has snow), frost seed your spring plants.  Broadcast before the snow or after but early enough that a few freezes and thaws will work the seeds into the ground as it expands and contracts.  Use a diverse mixture of legumes, broad leaf, grass, and a few brasicas.  Throw in some wildflowers and maybe some native grasses.  Don't go for uniformity of plant height or plant structure.  Diversity is key.  Soon you will have  a showcase pasture with lots of beneficial plants and insects.  Perhaps you could get some university students or grad students in the field of biology, soil science or ecology to speak with you to stake holders of the benefits this test plot offers the community and nature.  You might even find a student willing to write a grant or make it a thesis.  

If you decide to go this route, perhaps you can do a kick starter and ask Permies to help fund the seed capital to get started.  I am good for $50 bucks if you keep us posted and socialize your efforts.  An acre of seed mix will cost you less than $200 for seed.  A hand broadcaster will run you about $30.  Some labor and you are off to the races.  

Thank you for the ideas! I have the perfect "showcase" area, right behind my property, where the easement shortcuts a loop of high traffic greenway trail. It is very visible to local walkers, runners, and bikers. The easement itself is used as a shortcut by neighbor kids on bikes, but they stick to one side of the 60' easement. I have connections with NC State Entomology and other biologists who might be willing to help. We don't get much snow here (Piedmont NC) but hopefully enough freezes (more like frosts) to work some seeds in.

I had a front row seat to the pipeline construction, and other than completely demolishing the landscape I saw no other potential issues like toxic fairy dust. There is still "tree protection" fencing that they will take down but then they should be done with us, I hope.

It is very generous of you to offer to help with buying seed! I'm thinking I have enough like-minded neighbors that will chip in, and probably even help seed. I will need help with what to sow, hopefully some local experts will be able to help. I'm beginning to think this might work :-)