Road Crew Best Management Practices

The chart below outlines some basic tips for preventing the accidental spread of roadside invasives species during road crew activities.

Best Management Practices for Roadside Invasive Plants

SOIL DISTURBANCE & STABILIZATION

MOVEMENT & MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT
  1. Minimize soil disturbance.  Monitor recent work sites for the emergence of invasive plants for a minimum of 2 years after project completion.
     
  2. Stabilize disturbed soil as soon as possible.
  • Use clean mulch, hay, rip-rap, or gravel
  • Seed with native species where possible
  1. Avoid using fill from invaded sites.  When in doubt about the quality of fill, monitor work sites for the emergence of invasive plants for a minimum of 2 years.

 
  1. When equipment needs to be moved, plan work flow so that equipment is moved from unaffected sites to affected sites.  This is especially important during ditch cleaning and shoulder scraping.
     
  2. Staging areas should be free of invasive plants
     
  3. All equipment and tools should be cleaned of visible dirt and plant material before leaving affected project sites.  Cleaning methods can include portable wash stations, high pressure air, brush, broom, or other hand tools.
     
  4. If equipment will be used in infested areas, remove above-ground invasive plant materials such as purple loosestrife, phragmites, and Japanese knotweed prior to the start of work.

 

MOWING

 

HANDLING EXCAVATED MATERIAL &

INVASIVE PLANT MATERIAL
  1. Avoid mowing areas infested with purple loosestrife, phragmites, and Japanese knotweed, as these can sprout from stem and root fragments. Stake roadside populations with “Do Not Mow”.       
     
  2. If mowing is necessary, mow these areas BEFORE seed maturation (approximately August 1st).
     
  3. Clean mowing equipment daily, and prior to transport.  This is particularly important if mowing is after seed maturation (August 1st)

 
  1. Destroy removed plant material.  Methods include:
  • Drying/Liquefying: place on impervious surface and cover
  • Brush piles: not for plants with fruit or seed
  • Burying: minimum of 3 feet below grade
  • Burning: have a designated burn pile for invasive plants
  • Herbicide: requires a licensed applicator (VT Department of Agriculture)
  1. Cover invasive plant material when transporting.
     
  2. Excavated materials taken from infested areas should only be used onsite, unless all plant material has been destroyed.  Only use within exact limits of infestation.
     
  3. Stockpile unused excavated materials on impervious surface, or bury a minimum of 3 feet below grade (5 feet for Japanese knotweed).
     
  4. Excavation should be avoided in areas containing purple loosestrife, phragmites, and Japanese knotweed.

     
  5. Cover soil from infested areas when transporting.

For a printer-friendly version of this chart, click here.

This chart is adapted from New Hampshire Department of Transportation’s Best Management Practices for Roadside Invasive Plants. Click here for more information.