Roadside Vegetation Management - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Roadside Vegetation Management

Rick Wanner – Illinois Department of Transportation

Tim Pollowy – Hey and Associates, Inc.September 15, 2011Slide2

A little bit of background…

IDOT District 1 includes the six county metro Chicago area

~2,791 miles of roadway in District 1 that IDOT is responsible for maintainingDoes not include tollroads (which are ISTHA’s responsibility)Over 3,500 acres of expressway roadsides in District 1Over 13,500 acres of primary route roadsides in District 1Slide3

History…

In District 1, roadside landscape maintenance was (and in some cases remains) the responsibility of 23 separate IDOT Maintenance Yards spread out over 6 counties.

Abilities vary greatly between the Yards. As budgets and staff were cut, more and more maintenance work has been contracted out.Past complications with “No Spray” MapsSlide4

Vegetation management – Zone 1 vs. Zone 2

LitterTraffic control and safetyCoordination: Maintenance Yards vs. Contractors, politics vs. plans

Roadside Maintenance…Impact attenuator and arrow board behind spray truck

Trash along Dan Ryan ExpresswaySlide5

Zone 1 = roadside closest to and directly related to traveled lanes

“Mow maps” to define limits of mowing along expresswaysReduced mowing (acreage and frequency)

Maintain Zone 1 weed free to avoid spreading weeds during mowingZone 1Oops!Slide6

Zone 2 = roadside beyond Zone 1

Stronger relationship with adjacent propertyTVM (Targeted Vegetation Management) – “Prescriptions” for managing prairie, woodland, landscaped areas, and other cover types

Zone 2Weed control along the Bishop Ford ExpresswaySlide7

GIS Mapping & Database

In December of 2009, IDOT retained a consultant team led by Hey and Associates, Inc. to assist District 1 Bureau of Maintenance Operations with wetlands, erosion control, and landscape issues.

In 2010, Hey and Associates began development of GIS mapping and a database for all expressway roadsides while simultaneously managing numerous maintenance contracts including mowing, herbicide application, and urban forestry.Slide8

Results: I-290 Reconstruction (2010)

2010 Eisenhower Expressway reconstruction

~60 acres of selective clearing completedRemoval of invasive (e.g. Siberian elm) and hazard treesNative seed (provided by IDNR) hand broadcasted in Zone 2 areasI-290 near Independence Boulevard (2010)

I-290 near Oak Park (2011)Slide9

~ 550 Zone 2 acres sprayed targeting teasel (

Dipsacus laciniatus and D. sylvestris

) in 2011 via general weed control contract~ 80 Zone 1 & 2 acres sprayed targeting common reed (Phragmites australis) in 2011 via general weed control contractResults – Weed Control (2011)

Thorndale Avenue @ I-290 (before control)

Thorndale Avenue @ I-290 (after control)Slide10

Results: I-80 Widening/Resurfacing (2011)

2011 I-80 resurfacing and lane widening

~18 acres of selective clearing completed, 4 ½ more acres planned~ 7 acres of teasel control completed, more planned this Fall~ 10 acres of common reed control completedLarkin Avenue @ I-80 (before control)

Larkin Avenue @ I-80 (after control)Slide11

Looking ahead…

Limited resourcesPrioritize maintenance activities and locations

Three goals…Sauk Trail @ I-57 (SW infield)Slide12

Sauk Trail @ I-57 (SW infield)

Manheim Road @ I-290 (SE infield)

Goal #1: Maintain Nice AreasContinue to maintain Zone 1Identify areas of higher quality vegetation within IDOT ROW

Manage these areas to prevent degradationSlide13

Goal #2: Target New Invaders

Identified and targeted: Johnson grass, Leafy spurge, Blue globe thistle, and Oriental bittersweetSlide14

Goal #3: Coordination

IDOT seeks to coordinate invasive species control with adjacent land owners/managers

Weed control “on both sides of the fence”Keep invasive species out of high quality natural areasIDOT policy requires coordination with IDNR Heritage Biologist prior to any herbicide use adjacent to Nature Preserves and INAI sites