Vegetation Management is Necessary

The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) adopted an Integrated Vegetation Management Program nearly ten years ago. Prior to that time the Department managed vegetation through its mowing operations.

Vegetation Management is necessary to

• maintain a safe right-of-way by providing clear sight distances,
• clear signs and fixtures of vegetation for visibility and functionality,
• provide adequate drainage in roadway ditches,
• reduce fire hazard,
• provide snow drift control, 
• protect the roadway surface from vegetation encroachment and
• to maintain drainage.

Vegetation control is also necessary to slow and/or prevent the spread of noxious weeds. Federal and State Executive orders require the Department to take steps to prevent the spread of invasive or noxious plants. Federal Executive Order 13112, signed by President Clinton on February 3, 1999 requires "authorities to (i) prevent the introduction of invasive species; (ii) detect and respond rapidly to and control populations of such species."

Similarly Governor Johnson approved Executive Order 00-22 which requires "executive agencies to . . . to manage infestations of plant species designated by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture as Class A noxious weed infestations on state land or rights-of-way under their jurisdiction." Also, New Mexico Statutes require the government to develop and implement plans for the management of noxious weeds.

NMDOT is committed to provide timely Noxious Weed Management in our right-of-ways.

• Invasive plants and noxious weeds have been described as a raging biological wildfire out of control and spreading rapidly.
• The devastation from these alien plants includes enormous economic losses to agriculture and irreparable ecological damage to wild lands.
• These plants have negative direct and permanent impacts to almost all vegetative and wildlife habitats.
• They out compete native vegetation needed by wildlife for food, cover, or nesting.
• Millions of acres have been invaded or are at risk, including rangelands, forests, wilderness areas, national parks, recreation sites, and wildlife management. Invasive plants can even affect private property uses and economic values.

NMDOT has been working very conscientiously to apply herbicides as one part of an integrated vegetation management strategy. "We have improved mowing schedules, made use of weed-free mulch, and increased the training of our applicators to accomplish this goal," said Adolfo Lucero, Deputy Secretary for Highway Operations. "However, the fact remains that herbicides are sometimes the most economical and environmentally sound method of treating some plant species," he continued.

To have a successful vegetation management program, there must be an integration of all methods that are available:

• preventive,
• mechanical and
• chemical.

The NMDOT practices the following techniques in our Noxious Weed Management Program.

Noxious Weed Management Program

All personnel who work in the vegetation management area are trained and licensed as Public Applicators by New Mexico Department of Agriculture.

Personnel are trained in identifying and managing noxious weeds. Trained personnel identify locations of noxious weeds that need to be controlled or eradicated along state highways. Personnel are trained in using an integrated approach to address vegetation management.

Based on findings of area Road Patrols and after careful consideration of the area, the decision is made on which technique to use. Herbicide is one of the techniques commonly used in the Department in managing noxious weeds.

NMDOT has adopted an aggressive mapping program that has led to the discovery of many more infestations of noxious weeds. Herbicide applications have increased due to this discovery.

Mowing is the technique most commonly used for control of weeds not classified as "Noxious". Yearly spraying begins in March of each year and is performed in selected areas through July. Herbicide applications are reduced during July and August, and specific spraying is done in September or after the first frost.

A critical time for weed growth is May.

• During May there is more spraying than during the rest of the year.
• Spraying usually occurs in early hours of morning to avoid windy conditions that usually occur in midday and to minimize exposure of herbicide to the public.
• All herbicides are EPA registered.

Herbicides used by NMDOT

Herbicide trade name	Chemical name
2,4-D Amine	2,4-D
Arsenal	Isopropylamine salt of Imazapyr
Banvel	Dicamba
Campaign	Glyphosate
Endurance	Prodiamine
Escort	Metsulfuron Methyl
Garlon 3A	Triclopyr
Hyvar	Bromacil
Krovar	Bromacil
Oust	Sulfometuron Methyl
Outrider	Sulfosulfuron
Pendulum	Pendimethalin
Pramitol	Prometon
Rodeo	Glyphosate
Roundup Pro	Glyphosate
Sahara	Imazapyr
Telar	Chlorsulfuron
Tordon	Picloram
Transline	Clopyralid
Vanquish	Dicamba
Velpar	Hexazinone
Vista	Fluroxypr

 
Source:  New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT)