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Assessing Roadside Vegetation Management Alternatives

		» Field Trials » Project Proposal » Working Group Members » Meeting Minutes » UW Alternatives Study - Final Report

WSDOT is committed to minimizing the amount of herbicide used in roadside maintenance. As a result the agency funded independent research through the University of Washington (UW) to assess current practices and look for alternatives. Historically, over half of WSDOT’s annual herbicide use has been applied within 2 to 4 feet of the pavement edge along most sections of highway. Initial research focuses on this area as it offers the most significant opportunity to reduce herbicide use.

The inital analysis, lead by the UW gathered information on other research, other state's practices, maintenance costs, effectiveness, environmental effects, safety and more. A full description of the proposal for the inital study is available, including the problem description, objectives, products and tasks.

In addition to the UW professors, WSDOT received help on this research from a group of interested citizens, representatives of special interest groups, and federal, state and county government representatives. This group was referred too as the project working group. With the completion of the inital phase of research on this subject, the project working group has been expanded to include a wide range of WSDOT and outside agency experts who will continue to help by providing input on the set up and monitoring of the field trails in the succeeding phase of research.

Field trials for testing the benefit-cost of the most promising alternative methods have now been established and will be monitored for a minimum of three years. A description of the process for monitoring and documenting the field trials, along with a complete linatives and test locations is available. Periodic information on field trials will be posted on this page throught this phase of research.

For more information, contact Ray Willard at (360) 705-7865, or email willarr@wsdot.wa.gov.

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