In Controlling Roadside Invasive Species

A training video to help road maintenance crews recognize and control invasive plants has been developed by the U.S. Forest Service in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and other agencies.

The video, titled "Dangerous Travelers: Controlling Invasive Plants Along America's Roadways" outlines the best management practices that road crews should be following in their day-to-day operations, according to a fact sheet on the effort. Best practices include how to work with botany professionals for plant identification, developing inventory systems, mapping infestations, mechanical removal, herbicide treatments, weed-free products, maintenance techniques to reduce risk of spreading weeds, and equipment cleaning.

"Targeting invasive species is one of the Forest Service's top priorities," the fact sheet said. "In the western United States alone, 17 million acres have been taken over by invasive species. And, the number of acres is growing. It is estimated that an additional 4,600 acres are taken over by noxious weeds every day," the document stated.

Road maintenance crews are the nation's "first responders," the fact sheet said, providing early detection and rapid response to new infestations of invasive plants that could be spread quickly along these highway corridors.

The video is the first in a new series of videos on best management practices for invasive species prevention. It also will be part of a series of five videos that cover maintenance practices for unpaved roads titled "Forest Roads and the Environment."

The video was developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service's San Dimas Technology and Development Center in partnership with the National Forest System Invasive Species Program, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

It may be accessed on the invasive species program Web site, http://www.fs.fed.us/invasivespecies and by contacting: USDA Forest Service, San Dimas Technology and Development Center, 444 East Bonita Avenue, San Dimas, Calif. 91773, (909) 599-1267.