Control of Invasive Species

Abstract

This synthesis will be of interest to state transportation agency personnel, as well as to others who work with them on vegetation management. Environmental pressures, coupled with recent federal directives have significantly increased the need for control of invasive species. This report explores the extent to which state departments of transportation are identifying actions that affect the spread of invasive species, preventing introduction, tracking status and locations of invasives in a timely and ongoing manner, controlling found populations, restoring invaded habitats, conducting research, and sharing lessons learned. Information is presented about federal, state, and regional approaches; prevention, early detection, and rapid responses; identification of aspects of operations and risks; and statewide inventories and information management. Successful practices are documented, as well as lessons learned. In particular, this report synthesizes the state of the practice in developing Integrated (Roadside) Vegetation Management, along with physical, chemical, biological, and cultural control mechanisms. This synthesis effort contains information received from 40 state transportation agencies and the U.S. Forest Service, supplemented by material collected as part of a literature process. Personal interviews were also conducted to add details that show the issues facing practitioners today.