“Dangerous Travelers: Controlling Invasive Plants"

from the USDA Forest Service...


In the battle to control the rapid spread of invasive plants, the USDA Forest Service San Dimas Technology and Development Center in partnership with the National Forest System Invasive Species Program, the US Department of Transportation Federal Highways Administration, the US Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has developed a training video for road maintenance crews, “Dangerous Travelers: Controlling Invasive Plants Along America’s Roadways.” This video will help maintenance crews recognize and control noxious weeds along roadsides. Road crews that maintain any type road, from interstate highways to aggregate roads, are the frontline in preventing the spread of invasive plants. Targeting invasive species is one of the Forest Service’s top priorities. In the western United States alone, 17 million acres have been taken over by invasive species. And, the number of acres is growing. It is estimated that an additional 4,600 acres are taken over by noxious weeds every day.

With roadways becoming one of the major pathways which invasive plants are spread, it is essential that the first line of attack is along the road corridors by the road maintenance personnel. It is very important that road maintenance crews lead this battle against the growing problem of invasive plants because these crews are the first responders to infestations. These crews are our means of providing early detection and rapid response to new infestations of invasive plants that could be spread quickly along these travel corridors. This video will outline the very important role and responsibility that the road maintenance personnel have in controlling the spread of invasive plants and will give the road maintenance crews the basic knowledge and tools to play a major role in the continuing battle against invasive plants. The video outlines the best management practices that road crews should be following in their day-to-day operations, such as how to work with botany professionals for plant identification, developing inventory systems, mapping infestations, mechanical removal, herbicide treatments, weed free products, maintenance techniques to reduce risk of spreading weeds, and equipment cleaning.

This video will be available as a single video or it will be available with the “Forest Roads and the Environment” series of five videos that cover maintenance practices for unpaved roads and will be the first in a new series of videos on “Best Management Practices for Invasive Species Prevention.” The video is available on the national invasive species program internet website http:www.fs.fed.us/invasivespecies/ and by contacting:

USDA Forest Service
San Dimas Technology and Development Center
444 East Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, CA 91773
909-599-1267