Integrated Vegetation Management - 2006 Season Highlights
Herbicide Use
 Overall statewide use dropped 42% in 2006 as compared to 2005. This reduction is mainly the result of an aggressive reduction in Zone 1 treatments and in some cases the result of a shift in the types of chemicals used, from products that require application in lbs/acre to products that are used in oz/acre. The total pounds of active ingredient applied throughout the state in 2006 was just under 44,000 lbs.compared to a five year high of about 125,000 lbs in 2003.
The most dramatic change in herbicide use for 2006 was on the Eastside of the state where maintenance areas are focused on reducing Zone 1 maintenance wherever possible. On the Westside there was a slight overall reduction, but some area's use increased in 2006. It is expected that from here on herbicide use will see a more gradual downward trend overall, while individual area programs may see year to year variation up and down as they settle into a more controlled and predictable routine in refining their IVM plans.
IVM Plan Development
The final round of development is underway for area IVM plans. As of spring 2007 all areas of the state will be practicing roadside vegetation management as outlined in their individual plans. The areas being developed for 2007 include: Chehalis, Vancouver, Raymond, Colville, Spokane, and Davenport. Coinciding with the completion of the last of the area plans, the statewide program will begin an annual cycle or review and refinement within each area. This annual cycle will include the following major elements:
Spring - Training the individual crews/technicians on the details of their area plan and best practices for IVM
Summer - Implementation of the area plans and documentation of results
Fall - Area managers review the results of the previous season and consider opportunities for refinement or improvement in the coming season
Winter - Area plans are updated and training programs developed for the coming season
All completed area plans are available online. Some of the earlier versions of plans have become out of date in format and content, but over the coming year these plans will be updated and revised to reflect the current standards and area practices.
Study of Zone 1 Alternatives
Following the publication of a report by the UW in December of 2005, WSDOT began a three year project to evaluate field trials of various alternative practices in management of vegetation at the edge of pavement. In 2006, 38 sites were established throughout the state to monitor the costs and results of 19 alternative approaches to managing vegetation at the edge of pavement. The cost and results of these alternatives will be compared to WSDOT's historically traditional practice of maintaining a vegetation-free condition at the edge of pavement through the annual application of non-selective herbicides.
Annual summaries of findings will be published in the spring of 2007 and 2008. The final report on findings will be published in the spring of 2009.
Continued Work with Whidbey Island No-Spray
We are continuing to follow through on commitments made and dialogue with the interested parties on Whidbey Island. Our main point of contact is Mark Wahl who is the designated representative for the Whidbey Island No-Spray (WINS) coalition. Ray Willard has been keeping Mark up to date on our alternatives research and answering questions about roadside maintenance practices on the island.
One of our commitments was to do annual roadside restoration projects with maintenance funds on the island. Approximately 1.5 acres was planting with native shrubs and trees in 2004 and another acre was planted in 2005. Both these areas are doing well and are on their way to becoming naturally self sustaining roadsides. In 2006 we removed an old asphalt-lined ditch and replaced it with erosion control fabric, seeded with native grasses. This project is shown in the picture below.
Other Cooperative Efforts
Several other significant partnering projects were worked on in 2006:
The Weeds Cross Borders project continues to evolve and expand. This project is a cooperative effort between Okanogan County, British Columbia, BC Ministry of Transportation and WSDOT, as well as several other groups and agencies. It is partly funded through grants from FHWA. The group has been successful in providing education to the general public in both the U.S. and Canada, training boarder officials, and coordinating weed control efforts to greatly reduce populations of several invasive weeds within the project area such as Wild four o'clock, Puncturevine and Musk thistle.
A new cooperative effort was undertaken to address weed migration on the interstate corridors between Washington, Idaho and Montana. This effort will focus on the identification and inventory of specific species within the I-90 corridor. Partners will work together to prevent and control the migration of invasive species throughout this east/west connection.
The Washington State Invasive Species Council began work in late 2006. State Maintenance Engineer, Chris Christopher, represents WSDOT on this executive level group which also includes the state departments of Agriculture, Ecology, Natural Resources, and Fish and Wildlife, as well as the State Noxious Weed Control Brd. A number of Federal, Tribal, and private special interest groups are also involved. The council met for the first time in early December and will begin meeting quarterly in 2007.
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