Original Scope: Departments of Transportation (DOTs) face many challenges in dealing with maintenance and operational needs as well as an ever-increasing array of emergency responses to situations within their rights of way. Prolonged extreme temperatures, increased number and strength of severe weather events, fires, collateral damage from vehicle accidents, and earthquakes provide many challenges to owners regarding both man-made and natural elements of their facility. Successful vegetation management requires expertise, insight, coordination, tools and strategies that address roadside vegetation issues.
This scan will examine various approaches to vegetation management ranging from supporting native seed markets, targeted and integrated roadside vegetation management programs (IRVM), training, planning and site management. The scan will examine native seed development, improved planning of native seed and plant needs, vegetation management strategies, agency funding and contracting policies, regional seed production and coordination of suppliers.
The scan will develop key recommendations, tools and technology, training and practices for DOTs to improve their vegetation management strategies, native seed supply, planning, staff roles and responsibilities, agreements, approaches to contracting, etc. The scan will identify possible actions for establishing statewide, regional, local and cooperative enterprises for vegetation management including native seed development, diversity, supply, and usage. The information gained will be shared with DOT managers, landscape architects, contractors, contracting officers, construction managers, environmental specialists, and DOT stakeholders, including plant material and seed suppliers, and resource agencies.
Implementation and Impact
None to report at this time.
Scan Members
- Brian Smith, FHWA, AASHTO Chair
- Vonceil Harmon, Oklahoma DOT
- Christine Colley, New York State DOT
- Cathy Ford, Idaho TD
- Ken Murray, Caltrans
- Matt Kraushar, Indiana DOT
- Kayti Ewing, Arizona DOT
- John Rowen, SME
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