Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities

April 2014 Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.

Integrated Vegetation Management PlanIntegrated Vegetation Management Plan

Michael J. CoffeyChief, Statewide Maintenance and Operations

Vegetation Management Facts• 5,600 centerline miles

of roadway

• Cut over 10,000 lane miles per year

• Current annual cost is $4M statewide

• Maintain roadway sight distance

• Reduce wildlife strikes

• Maintain sign visibility

• Reduce collision targets

• Provide solar exposure to minimize winter icing

• Prevent degradation of road surface

• Prevent degradation of guardrail and fences

• Provide aesthetic value

• Preserve environmental and economic condition of adjacent properties

• Prevent biological pollution (i.e., noxious and invasive weeds)

Guardrail Vegetation Management

SAGA

The Southeast Alaska Guidance Association (SAGA) & the Alaska Service Corps

Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species Problems Statewide:•Southeast

o Knotweed•Central

o Thistle•Northern

o Thistle, WSC, Vetch

Mechanical Methods

M&O Best Management Practices (BMPs) to Avoid the Spread of Invasives

• Cleaning vehicles and equipment regularly• Re-vegetating with native, local, and/or non-invasive

plants• Identifying and avoiding contaminated areas• Working from uninfested to infested areas• Coordinating with local groups that are managing

invasive species• Timing mowing (if possible) to prevent seed production

of invasive plants • Using certified weed-free materials• Scouting for invasive plants prior to performing

maintenance activities• Recording and reporting invasive plants

ADEC Regulation Change• New ADEC regulations became effective on March

7, 2013

• Eliminated the requirement for pesticide-use permits for most applications on state-owned lands.

• However, state agencies are required to develop and implement an Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM Plan) prior to applying pesticides on state lands or rights-of-way.

• The DOT&PF IVMP is a type of IPM Plan

REQUIREMENTS PRIOR TO HERBICIDE APPLICATION

• Notify ADEC 15 days before each proposed application, including multiple application projects, as defined within 18 AAC 90.640(d).

• Two consecutive public notices for planned herbicide applications will be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected area, no later than 30 days before the date of scheduled single or multiple application projects as required by 18 AAC 90.640(b). This notice will include:• The location of the application• The complete name and EPA registration number of the

herbicide(s)• The target pests• The method of application• For multiple application projects, the approximate number of

applications to be made• How the public can receive more information about the proposed

application

 

ADOT&PF’s IVMP

• First IVMP dated July 2013

• Posted ADEC webpage

• First IVMP Effective Dates: July 2013 – July 2015

• Revised IVMP currently posted on ADEC site

• Revised IVMP Effective Dates: April 2014 – April 2016

• IVMP covers public rights-of-ways, airports, and other lands and facilities owned or leased by ADOT&PF

• IVMP Goal - The primary goal of vegetation management throughout ADOT&PF lands is to improve public safety and protect infrastructure

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

The Zone Concept

Zone 3

Vegetation Control Methods Preventative

Mechanical

Chemical

Vegetation Control Methods Chemical

• Aquamaster (Glyphosate) • RoundUp Ready-to-Use Weed and

Grass Killer III (Glyphosate)• Habitat (Imazapyr)• Garlon 3A, 4, and 4 Ultra (Triclopyr)• Milestone (Aminopyralid)• Transline (Clopyralid)• Escalade 2 (2, 4-D, Floroxpyr,

Dicamba)• Escort XP (Metsulfuron methyl)• Telar XP (Chlorsulfuron)

When Herbicide May Be Used

Highways

•Zone 1: When vegetation is present, including noxious weeds•Zone 2: When tall vegetation begins to obstruct sightlines, when woody vegetation is present, or if noxious weeds are present•Zone 3: When noxious weeds are present•All cases: When woody vegetation is growing up through guard rail or within fence lines

When Herbicide May Be Used

Airports

•When tall herbaceous vegetation or woody vegetation obstructs critical airport infrastructure, such as the runway, landing lights, or approaches•When vegetation is damaging pavement or gravel runways•When woody vegetation is growing up through fence lines•When noxious weeds are present

• Although written for M&O, the plan applies to anyone working in the department’s right-of-way

• The plan is available to be utilized on DOT&PF construction projects, but must be coordinated with Mike Coffey

• The ADNR, Copper River Watershed Project, and the Southeast Alaska Soil Water Conservation District have all applied herbicides under our IVMP. In addition, we are working with the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on the peninsula and have had ongoing discussions with BLM.

IVMP Partnering Opportunities

• An ADEC pesticide-use permit is required for application to water, including wetlands

• The permitting process is rigorous, and takes between100 days to over a year to complete

• For now, DOT&PF will limit application to uplands

Certified Applicator Training Required

Step 1 - Choose the Best Tool: Consider the most appropriate tool for vegetation management, including non-chemical maintenance measures, and identify when plan implementation will be most effective based on the vegetative lifecycle. If herbicide is to be used, choose the one that will be most effective from Table 1 of the IVMP.

Step 2 - Make a Plan: Consider the potential costs associated with your project, the personnel you will have and/or work with to complete the task, and come up with a timeline that accounts for the agency and public cooperation that is required (consult Notification Schedule for guidance in Step 6). Compile maps/visuals to show your project area.

Step 3 - Contact Mike Coffey to begin coordination.

Step 4 – Fill out the Pre-application Checklist. This is available on the DOT IVMP website.

Step 5 – Notify the public via two consecutive public notices. Information required to be in the public notices is on the DOT&PF IVMP website. The second notice must be published 30 days before spraying takes place.

Step 6 – Apply for a Lane Closure permit through DOT’s Right-of-Way (ROW section). This gives you permission to work in the DOT ROW. For this, you must submit a traffic control plan and paperwork form Mike Coffey confirming that you have completed the Pre-application checklist and posted your public notice ads.

Step 7 – Notify the ADEC and Mike Coffey at least 15 days before spraying so information can be posted on the ADEC website

Step 8 – Apply herbicides according to labels, and state and federal regulations using only ADEC-certified pesticide applicators, keeping track of rates of application, areas of application, and total amount(s) used. Details from spraying will be put in the final checklist, so have that with you when you spray or review it beforehand.

Step 9 – Complete the Post-application checklist and submit it to Mike Coffey

Step 10 – Keep herbicide spraying records for two years. DOT&PF will also keep records of your paperwork and will publish a report on their website for each herbicide applied to more than 20 acres in a calendar year.

Steps to Using the DOT&PF IVMP

Summary• The ultimate goal of vegetation management is

public safety

• Mechanical methods are - and will continue to be - the primary method of vegetation management for DOT&PF

• Herbicide use is a valuable tool Use will be limited, selective, and targeted Important tool for controlling invasive species

• All vegetation management will be conducted in an environmentally-sound manner

Herbicide Application to Date NR

Boundary Airport Before Boundary Airport After

Herbicide Application to Date NR

Boundary Airport Equip. Boundary Airport Equip.

Herbicide Application to Date NR

Alaska Hwy MP 1382-1385 & 1409-1410

Alaska Hwy MP 1382-1385 & 1409-1410

Herbicide Application to Date NR

Alaska Hwy MP 1382-1385 & 1409-1410

Alaska Hwy MP 1382-1385 & 1409-1410

Herbicide Application to Date NR2014 IVMP Herbicide Application Summary

District or Cooperator Roadway/Town Status Summary of Locations Who Performed Application Predominant Vegetation

Tok District - DOTPF Alaska Highway Applied - 2013 Both sides of road: MP 1383-1385, MP 1409-1410 Guardrail: MP 1381.48 (south), MP 1382.48 (north), MP 1384.86 (both sides)

Salcha-Delta Soil and Water Conservation District Willow, small brush

Copper River Watershed Project Copper River Hwy MP 3.75-4 Applied - 2014 Road shoulder Zone 2 Copper River Watershed Project Invasive (reed canarygrass)

Tok District - DOTPF Boundary Airport Applied - 2014 On runway Salcha-Delta Soil and Water Conservation District Grass, herbaceous

Valdez District - DOTPF Richardson Highway Site Visit - 2014 50 sections of guardrail visited; approximately half approved for application Trees, shrubs, herbaceous

Tok District - DOTPF Richardson Highway Site Visit - 2014 26 sections of guardrail visited; parts of all but 3 sites approved for application Willow, small brush

Salcha-Delta Soil and Water Conservation District

Delta Junction - (Richardson Highway, Tanana Loop Rd. & Extension, Jack Warren Extension, Clearwater Rd., School Rd.)

Site Visit - 2014 18 sites visited; over half approved for application Invasive plants, including bird vetch, white/yellow sweet clover, sow thistle, toad flax

Fairbanks District - DOTPF Richardson Highway Site Visit - 2014 32 sites visited; approximately 3/4 of proposed sites approved for application Willow

Fairbanks District - DOTPF Steese Highway MP 2-27 Site Visit - 2014 19 sites visited; majority of sites approved for application Willow

Fairbanks District - DOTPF Chena Hot Springs Road Site Visit - 2014 7 sites visited; approximately half approved for application Willow

Fairbanks District - DOTPF Elliott Highway Site Visit - 2014 Guardrail sites approved for application with the exception of 4 sites Willow

Fairbanks District - DOTPF Chena Pump/Chena Ridge Site Visit - 2014 7 sites visited; all approved for application with one exception Willow

Fairbanks District - DOTPF Steese Highway MP 80-128 Requires Visit - 2015

Fairbanks District - DOTPF Parks Highway/Mitchell Expressway Requires Visit - 2015

Denali District - DOTPF Parks Highway Requires Visit - 2015

ADNR Anchorage ApplicationAquamaster

Filling the tank with water

Milestone and Backpack sprayer

Garlon 3A

ADNR Anchorage Application

Tractor Boom Sprayer

ADNR Anchorage Application

ATV Boom Sprayer

ADNR Anchorage Application

Skid Boom Sprayer with Hose Reel and Handgun Applicator

ADNR Application Results

July 22nd

July 22nd July 28th

July 28th

ADNR Application Results

July 14th

July 14th

September 24th

September 24th

ADNR Application Results

August 7th

August 7th

September 2nd

October 8th

ADNR Application Results

September 23rd

September 23rd

October 8th

October 8th

Herbicide Application to Date CR

Herbicide Application to Date CR

Sterling Highway

Parks Highway

Herbicide Application 2015 CR

Roadway Begin MP End MPRoadway Side

(Left, Right)Total Dist Description of Problem Area(s)

Sterling Hwy (1st priority) 115 145 both 30 center miles woody veg

Sterling Hwy (2nd priority) 145 170 both 25 center miles woody veg

Peninsula District - Locations for Herbicide Application 2015

Roadway Begin MP End MPRoadway Side

(Left, Right)Total Dist Description of Problem Area(s)

Parks 22.78 33.97 left and right 11.2 heavy brushParks 68.953 77.73 left and right 8.8 heavy brushParks 81 87.82 left and right 6.8 heavy brush

Herbicide Application 2015 CR

Herbicide Application 2015 CR

Southeast Soil and Water Conservation District

Thank You