DB 2008-20 Best Practices Handbook for Roadside Vegetation Management e ativ Solutions! nov ..In earch...Knowledge. es Take the steps... R Transportation Research Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. 3. Recipients Accession No. MN/RC 2008-20 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date July 2008 Best Practices Handbook for Roadside Vegetation Management 6. 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Ann M. Johnson, P.E. 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Project/Task/Work Unit No. Professional Engineering Services, Ltd. 213 Townes Lane 11. Contract (C) or Grant (G) No. Wayzata, MN 55391 (c) 90053 12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Minnesota Department of Transportation Final Report Office of Research Services 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 395 John Ireland Boulevard, Mail Stop 330 St. Paul, MN 55155 15. Supplementary Notes http://www.lrrb.org/pdf/200820.pdf http://www.lrrb.org/pdf/200019.pdf (prior related handbook) 16. Abstract (Limit: 200 words) Maintaining roadsides for safety and aesthetics is an important issue for all levels of government throughout Minnesota. Vegetation is one important element of roadside maintenance. A healthy roadside environment reduces maintenance needs and costs, reduces erosion and improves water quality, improves water infiltration and reduces runoff, preserves the roadside surface, maximizes safety for vehicles and travelers, limits liability for the governing agency, maintains good public relations, improves the overall driving experience, and provides habitat for wildlife populations. This handbook was written to provide guidelines for effective management of roadside vegetation for local agencies, and highlights eight best management practices (BMPs) that were identified through research, literature review, surveys, and discussion with industry experts. The eight best management practices for roadside vegetation are: (1) develop an integrated roadside vegetation management plan, (2) develop a public relations plan, (3) develop a mowing policy and improved procedures, (4) establish sustainable vegetation, (5) control prohibited and restricted noxious weeds, (6) manage living snow fences, (7) use integrated construction and maintenance practices, and (8) manage roadside vegetation for wildlife and vehicle safety. The main conclusion from the handbook is that successful roadside vegetation management depends on an integrated approach. This includes a wide variety of best management practices to address the many issues involved. This integrated approach includes an assessment of the existing conditions and determination of the type of roadside environment desired. Other construction operations, including proper seeding techniques, selection of the correct plant in the right area, selection of salt-tolerant plant species where needed, and erosion control, will greatly affect the roadside condition. Use of integrated construction and maintenance practices is one of the most important best management practices identified in the handbook. 17. Document Analysis/Descriptors 18. Availability Statement Integrated Roadside Vegetation roadside vegetation, noxious weeds, No restrictions. Document available Management Plan, tree care, mowing, sustainable vegetation, native from: woody vegetation, pruning, grasses, wildflowers, brush control, National Technical Information Services, noxious weeds, landscaping, salt-resistant grasses, staged seeding, Springfield, Virginia 22161 topsoil conservation, erosion vegetation maintenance, control, living snow fence, vehicle safety, wildlife habitat 19. Security Class (this report) 20. Security Class (this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 156 Best Practices Handbook for Roadside Vegetation Management Final Report Prepared by: Ann Johnson, P.E. Professional Engineering Services, Ltd. July 2008 Published by: Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Research Services 395 John Ireland Boulevard, Mail Stop 330 St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 This report represents the results of research conducted by the authors and does not necessarily represent the view or policy of the Minnesota Department of Transportation and/or the Center for Transportation Studies. This report does not contain a standard or specified technique. The authors and the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Center for Transportation Studies do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to this report. Acknowledgements We thank the Minnesota Local Road Research Board for the financial support to fund this handbook. We thank the Technical Liaisons directing the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP), Paul Walvatne and John McDonald, whose support and creative ideas from the outset made this project possible. We thank the members of the TAP that were instrumental in development and without whose comments and advice this resource would not have been possible; their expertise was invaluable. Technical Advisory Panel: Paul Walvatne Mn/DOT (Technical Liaison) John McDonald Fairbault County (Technical Liaison) Jason Alcott Mn/DOT - Environmental Services Dennis Distad Mn/DOT - Dodge Center Truck Station Debra Fick Mn/DOT Research Service Section OIM (Administrative Liaison) Gabe Guevara Mn/DOT – Maintenance Operations Daniel Gullickson Mn/DOT - Environmental Services Scott Hansen Mille Lacs Band Ojibwe Kurt Haroldson MDNR – Farmland Wildlife Populations & Research Group Bob Hummel Jackson County Highway Department Daniel Leister Mn/DOT – Detroit Lakes District Office Mike Moilanen Mille Lacs Band Ojibwe Carmelita Nelson MDNR – Coordinator, Roadsides for Wildlife Randy Reznicek Mn/DOT – Maintenance Operations Kathleen Schaefer Mn/DOT – CTAP Coordinator Dwayne Stenlund Mn/DOT - Environmental Services Tom Struve City of Eagan Thomas Tri St. Louis County Robert Weinholzer Mn/DOT – Traffic, Security, & Operations Project consultation provided by Ann Johnson, P.E., Professional Engineering Services, Ltd. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 1 Original survey 2 How this handbook is organized 2 CHAPTER 1: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE NO. 1: DEVELOP AN INTEGRATED ROADSIDE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN 3 What is an integrated roadside vegetation management plan? 3 Benefits of implementing an integrated management plan 4 Safety 4 Economic 4 Flexibility 4 Environmental 4 Aesthetic 4 Public Relations 4 Developing an IRVM plan 5 Promoting an IRVM philosophy and legacy 7 Preliminary planning 7 Assessing existing conditions 8 Soil 8 Topography 8 Vegetation 9 Developing a plan 11 Implementing the plan 12 Additional resources 13 CHAPTER 2: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE NO. 2: DEVELOP A PUBLIC RELATIONS PLAN 14 CHAPTER 3: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE NO. 3: DEVELOP A MOWING POLICY & IMPROVED PROCEDURES 16 Developing a mowing policy 16 State mowing policy 17 Mn/DOT requirements for all mowing widths 18 Maintaining the clear zone 18 Equipment cleaning after mowing 19 CHAPTER 4: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE NO. 4: ESTABLISH SUSTAINABLE VEGETATION 20 Using native grasses and wildflowers 20 A survey of existing native plants 21 Seed sources and harvesting 21 How to start a prairie planting 22 Steps to a prairie planting 22 How to plant prairie grasses and wildflowers in your own ditch 23 Maintenance needs 23 Using salt-resistant vegetation 24 Staged planting 24 Controlling and preventing erosion 24 Choosing the right tree or shrub for a given area 25 Tree and shrub seedling mixes 26 Site preparation 27 Seedling storage and handling 27 Planting dates 27 Seedling installation 28 Seedling sources 28 Direct seeding 28 Managing woody vegetation and trees 29 General best management practices for woody vegetation 29 Brush control guidelines 29 Tree care and pruning guidelines 30 Pruning 30 Pruning practices that harm trees 35 Tree removals 36 Additional resources 36 CHAPTER 5: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE NO. 5: CONTROLLING PROHIBITED & RESTRICTED NOXIOUS WEEDS 38 Controlling weeds 38 Participate in Weed Management Areas (WMA) Collaborations 38 Conduct Weed Surveys and Inventories 39 Practice Early Detection and Rapid Response on New Invaders and an Integrated Approach to Prevent Spread via Maintenance Vehicles and Equipment 39 Biological weed control 40 Cultural control of noxious weeds 40 Physical control of noxious weeds 40 Chemical control of noxious weeds 40 Applying herbicides 41 Spot spraying 41 Appropriate timing 41 Knowing how herbicides work 42 Best practices for brush control 48 Precautions for all herbicide applications 49 Handling herbicides 51 Herbicide spills 53 Herbicide records 53 Additional resources 54 CHAPTER 6: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE NO. 6: MANAGE LIVING SNOW FENCES 55 Guidelines for snow fence placement and design 56 Twin Shrub Row 56 Community Shelterbelt 56 Deciduous Trees Windbreak 56 Standing Corn Rows 57 Design methods 57 Maintenance activities 57 Use in Minnesota 58 CHAPTER 7: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE NO. 7: USE INTEGRATED CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE PRACTICES 59 Integrated construction and maintenance practices 59 Erosion control 59 Topsoil placement and grading operations 60 Temporary seeding 60 Permanent seeding 60 Tree protection 60 CHAPTER 8: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE NO. 8: MANAGING ROADSIDE VEGETATION FOR WILDLIFE & VEHICLE SAFETY 63 John D. Krenz Premises 63 Value of wildlife 63 Ecology of roadsides 64 Biogeographical concepts important to wildlife 64 Edge habitats 64 Corridors 65 Principles of the effects of vegetative characteristics on wildlife 65