Arizona's Natural Resources Management Program

By Bruce D. Eilerts, (602) 712-7398

ADOT protects sensitive species through careful alignment.

The mission of ADOT's Natural Resources Management Section is to anticipate, plan for, and mitigate environmental conflicts arising from the operation and maintenance of Arizona's highway system; to provide professional and ethical management of Arizona's roadside natural resources."

Vegetation Management

Vegetation management is an ongoing agency requirement and priority, It is the policy of ADOT's Natural Resources Section to use an integrated resource management approach to promote low growing native vegetation on all highways under the state's jurisdiction. This means that our goal is to use mechanical methods, herbicides, prescribed fire, tillage, biological controls and seeding to establish a stable roadside environment that requires few inputs of any of the above resources. Currently, clear zones along Arizona's state highways and roads are being managed using methods that encourage the establishment of native species of short grasses and shrubs that reduce soil erosion, stabilize roadsides, and are aesthetically pleasing without compromising traffic operations.

Herbicides are only one of the tools ADOT uses for vegetation management. Other means of vegetation management involve mechanical controls that include mowing; hand pulling, tree thinning, burning, and biological control methods are currently under review for possible use. ADOT's Natural Resource Section constantly reviews all available literature and explores other management techniques, methods, and practices.

The current policy is to plan and schedule our work in such a manner as to accommodate the public's concerns while managing the highway rights-of-way in an efficient and effective manner that promotes highway safety and suppresses noxious weeds, animal hazards, and wildfire fuels. A toll free number will issue a weekly notice of spray schedules for that week and a "heads-up" for monthly notification 30 days in advance of scheduled applications. The weekly notice will also contain any deletions or postponements.

If requested, buffers around access roads, mailboxes, etc., may be accommodated by other means whenever possible and economically feasible, including agreements for concerned citizens to maintain the vegetation themselves in the vicinity of driveways, mailboxes, etc.

Natural Resources Management Planning

The ADOT Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) for highway rights-of-way contains management information and guidelines, and clearly defines goals currently being implemented to enhance and improve highway safety throughout the state of Arizona. This document is available upon request.

The existing INRMP was completed in 1998 and is currently undergoing its five year review and revision. Management objectives that will be covered within the revised INRMP include but are not limited to: Vegetation control; noxious weed management: noxious weed surveys/reports and GIS mapping; prevention and interdiction of noxious and invasive plant species; re vegetation with low-maintenance and low growing native plants; tree and shrub removal and thinning; seeding and planting programs; herbicide spraying; prescribed burning; native plant salvage; re vegetation and erosion control; techniques for best management practices; wildlife research and management; biological monitoring; agency liaison and coordination; environmental planning and compliance; landscaping; review of selected construction projects; contract administration; vector control; GIS/GPS management; and technical training.

Noxious Weeds/Alien Species

Native plants are preferred by land managers because of their low growing and easily maintainable characteristics, are being replaced rapidly by the rapidly spreading noxious species. Noxious weed species obstruct roadway safety features, degrade highway infrastructure, and pose a serious threat to the State's economy, agriculture and natural environment.

Recently, ADOT implemented improved environmental management and landscaping practices using efficient xeriscaping techniques while replacing non native vegetation with native plant species whenever possible.