BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES CONTROLLING THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE PLANTS DURING ROAD MAINTENANCE
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Controlling the spread of invasive plants
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Intent of the Manual
Table of Contents:
The ntended audience for this manual is those that work in rights of way, such as roads, trails, railways and utility corridors performing routine maintenance activities such as vegetation clearing. Many of the practices described in this booklet are applicable well beyond those that work in routine maintenance activities.
The Problem with invasive plants .......................... 4
This manual is intended for use when planning activities and when in the field conducting maintenance projects. Planning activities can be served through the associated website and interactive maps for each highlighted species. Activities such as identification of and reporting high priority invasive plants are best served if the booklet is in hand when a suspect plant is spotted. Provide these booklets to all employees working on maintenance place them in all vehicles and ensure they are taken into the field.
Reporting invasive plants and identification help ........................................... 12
Best Management Practices................................... 6 Planning to avoid investations .............................. 10
Highlighted invasive weeds and timing maintenance activities ......................... 14 Bird vetch ............................................................ 14 Giant Hogweed ................................................... 16 Knotweed, Japanese, Bohemian, Giant ............... 18
Acknowledgements This publication is produced in cooperation with the UAF Cooperative Extension Service, Alaska Department of Transportation, U.S. Forest Service Alaska Region, and the Alaska Committee for Noxious and Invasive PlantsBird vetch Management.
Orange hawkweed .............................................. 20 Perennial sowthistle............................................. 22 Reed canarygrass ................................................. 24 Spotted knapweed .............................................. 26 Thistle, creeping (Canada)................................... 28 White sweetclover .............................................. 30
Spotted Knapweed
Orange Hawkweed
Japanese Knotweed
Bird Vetch page 2
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The Problem with invasive plants Invasive plants are species introduced to an area, accidentally or on purpose, that grow uncontrollably to negatively affect natural resources, agriculture, the economy, or human health. Invasive plants often establish in disturbed areas with frequent human traffic such as roadsides. Some invasive plants are problematic for roadside maintenance as they tangle mowing equipment or grow tall enough to block sighting distances. Other invasive plants become problematic when they escape the road corridor to invade natural or agricultural areas. The State of Alaska has regulated Noxious Weeds, which the Division of Agriculture has identified as particularly problematic to agriculture or natural resources. Management of these weeds is presently not a legal requirement (regulations typically focus on transport and planting of weeds). Management of regulated weeds however, is a priority for many agencies, and the public.
DID YOU KNOW? Roadside maintenance activities can prevent the establishment and spread of invasive weeds by implementing best management practices and making minor adjustments to mowing schedules. These practices will help prevent the spread of weeds and also prevent future costly maintenance activities. For more information on best management practices see page 6.
Invasive plants are beginning to impact natural and agricultural resources in Alaska. The growing agricultural industry in Alaska has many opportunities because of a lack of invasive plants in the state. Agricultural opportunities are threatened as invasive plants spread to new areas. page 4
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Invasive plants impact natural resources. For example, in Alaska high density white sweetclover infestations prevent willow seedlings from establishing on glacial streems, sweetclover is suspected to disrupt pollination of berry producing plants, bird cherry growing at water edges provide less input of insects fish to eat than native trees, and are toxic to moose. Regular disturbance from mowing and traffic, and a constant influx of seeds that arrive on contaminated equipment, gravel/fill, seed, and vehicles combine to make roadsides a great environment for weeds to grow. Infestations spread readily on road corridors and often become the source of new infestations on farms and natural areas. Invasive plants and roadside maintenance Once established on a roadside invasive plants are difficult to remove. Invasive plants can fowl machinery, grow rapidly and block sighting distance creating general maintenance and safety issues. Some invasive plants such as Japanese knotweed can even grow through asphalt causing damage to the road surface. Invasive plants often spread from roadsides to agricultural lands and natural areas where they displace crops and desirable vegetation. It is well known that weeds reduce crop yields and cost farmers money to control. Invasive plants in natural areas can reduce the quality of habitat for salmon, moose, and other species we appreciate. Invasive plants can crowd out desirable vegetation and prevent adequate pollination of berry plants reducing the amount of berries available in the fall. This booklet describes Best Management Practices that can prevent the spread of invasive plants on roadsides and into agricultural or natural areas. Activities such as mowing, grading, ditching, and construction can work to exacerbate or prevent the spread of invasive plants. The Best Management Practices in this booklet are designed to help road maintenance activities prevent the spread of invasive plants.
Controlling the spread of invasive plants
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Best Management Practices 1. Avoid contaminated areas. Do not travel through areas infested with weeds and avoid parking or staging equipment in infested areas. If this is unavoidable try to mow plants regularly to prevent seeds from maturing.
White sweetclover, shown here, entangles mowing equipment. You can see how spreading seeds and plant parts with equipment is easy to do.
3. Revegetate with native, local and/or non-invasive plant species. Vigorous non-invasive perennial grass species will prevent invasions by weedy species. Contact DOT&PF environmental analyst for assistance with seed mixtures for your location.
Vigorous low growing grasses are easy to maintain, and can be effective competitors with weeds. Photo courtesy Brett Nelson, Alaska Department of Transportation
2. Regularly clean vehicles and equipment. When returning to the maintenance station clean vehicles and equipment using a pressure washer, paying special attention to wheel wells, areas behind the bumper and other areas that are likely to catch vegetation or seeds.
This recently cleaned mower not only looks good, but has a reduced risk of transporting seeds and other plant propagules to a new site. Photo courtesy Brett
4. Mow and brush cut starting in areas without invasive weeds and moving towards areas with invasive weeds. Managing uninvaded areas first ensures that invasive weeds do not contaminate equipment and move to new areas. Generally areas away from towns are uninfested while areas near towns are still infested.
Mowing white sweetclover. Hopefully at the end of the day so seeds are not transported to new areas.
Nelson, Alaska Department of Transportation.
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5. Coordinate with local groups that are managing invasive species. Opportunities to compliment efforts exist where weed managers are targeting a species or infestations in an area.
The Division of Agriculture and other groups often manage weeds on roadsides and appreicate coordination with roadside maintenance activities.
6. Time mowing to not come in contact with and spread seeds of invasive plants. Many weeds only have enough time to flower and seed once during the year. Typically mowing in early July will prevent some species from successfully developing seed.
7. Use certified weed free materials, including gravel, hay/ straw, and erosion control tubes, whenever possible. Ensure the use of weed free materials when working near sensitive habitats such as streams, rivers and wetlands, or areas that are known to be weed free. Contact your local soil and water conservation district and/or the Division of Agriculture Plant Materials Center for local supplies of certified material. Gravel sometimes harbors seeds of weeds. Shown here is sweetclover growing on contaminated gravel.
8. Identify locations of known invasive plant infestations and plan maintenance activities accordingly. Mowing, ditching and other disturbance activities should occur prior to the plants setting seed. Contact the Cooperative Extension Service for timing information if you are unsure.
The AKEPIC data portal is a great resource to determine where weeds are in your work area. Visit http:// aknhp.uaa.alaska.edu/botany/akepic/ or view the online versions of the maps in this booklet. These creeping thistle plants have ripe seed that if mowed will be transported to new areas.
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9. Record and report locations of invasive plants that are new to a particular area. Visit www.uaf.edu/ces/ipm to record and report your finding. Controlling the spread of invasive plants
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Planning to avoid infestations Most infestations on roadsides that you need to be concerned with are already recorded in an online searchable database. Planning to avoid spreading these weeds during regular maintenance activities can be accomplished by selecting an area where work is planned and downloading a file with information on the weeds in the area. Maps of road segments
infested with weeds highlighted in this manual are available online. Help is available! Contact the Cooperative Extension Service to get information on weeds located in an area where work is planned. These offices have specialists that are familiar with the data portal and can assist you in using it. To access the data base go to http://aknhp.uaa.alaska.edu/maps/akepic/
HINT Can’t remember the website address, just Google AKEPIC (Alaska Exotic Plant Information Clearinghouse), and select the AKEPIC Data portal.
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Once you have accessed the database locate the species layer box in the upper right hand corner of your window. Check the box to “Load all species within the bounding box”. Then using your mouse click and drag to form a box around the area you are interested in. Release the mouse button and a scrolling menu appears in the “Species layers” box (upper right). You can scroll through this list and eliminate species that you do not want to worry about and keep the species you are concerned with. Once finished you can download the data in a format you prefer (Excel is most widely applicable). You can also print the page or copy the page to another file so that an image of the map can be taken with you. The data portal allows for queries of specific species in a given area. If you already know which species you wish to be concerned with you can select those species from the “Species” box located in the bottom right of the data portal window. Enter the common name to begin the search, select the species when it comes up. The location points will show up as the appropriate colored dot.
REMEMBER Local Soil and Water Conservation District or Cooperative Extension Service employees are often available to help identify locations of invasive plants you should plan to prevent spreading. These entities will know about any planned control efforts for that growing season. Control efforts often require the area is left undisturbed while herbicides, for example, take effect on the plant. Controlling the spread of invasive plants
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Reporting invasive plants and identification help
Plant submission
Name: First and Last*
Letting the right people know when a new invasive plant shows up in an area can save a lot of money and resources down the road. Whether you think you spotted a new weed to your area or just need to confirm the identity of a weed you think you should avoid spreading you can use the following online reporting system to submit photos, location descriptions and ask questions. If you see an unusual plant or need help determining how to control the spread of invasive weeds you can get information in the following ways: • Online data submission at www.uaf.edu/ces/ipm.
E-mail* Phone District ▲ ▼
Anchorage
Other location
Location/Physical Address
Latitude Longitude When did you first notice the pest?
• Call 1-877-520-5211 for local assistance from the Cooperative Extension Service
Area affected Garden Landscape Forest/natural area Turf/Lawn Agricultural field Structure of building
Is the plant impacting vegetation No
▲ ▼
What do you think the plant might be?
Make sure to provide the following information: • Pictures of the plant, or a contained sample of the specimen
Additional Comments/What is your main concern?
• Location description, mile post, GPS latitude and longitude etc. • Size of the infestation • Your contact information
Upload picture Choose File
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Highlighted weeds and timing maintenance activities
Numerous purplish blue flower clusters are arranged on one side of a stalk. Leaves are composed of many pairs of narrow leaflets, with coiling tendrils at the tip.
Bird vetch, Vicia Cracca
Photo courtesy Michael Rasy, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bugwood.org
Be Aware: some native plants look like bird vetch. Marsh pea and beach pea both look similar, however typically do not grow as agressively and have winged stems. Photo courtesy Katie Spellman, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Prevalent in communities around Fairbanks, Palmer and Anchorage, but not as much in other areas such as Salcha-Delta, and the Kenai Peninsula. Vetch smothers woody vegetation and fences.
Photo courtesy Michael Rasy, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bugwood.org
Bird vetch infestations on DOT roadsides Roads Infestations Northern Region
Mowing in July will prevent accidental spread of seeds. Herbicides are affective when applied early in the growing season. May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Manual/ mechanical
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
Herbicide
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
Avoid if not controlled
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Central Region Southeast Region
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Giant hogweed should not be touched without protective clothing to prevent contact with skin because it causes extreme photosensitivity. If found do not disturb and report immediately.
Giant hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum
Photo courtesy Andrew Weaver, Alaska Division of Agriculture
Giant hogweed is only known in Kake. If found anywhere in Alaska report giant hogweed immediately. Giant hogweed looks very similar to the cow parsnip aka pushke that is common in Alaska. The major difference being the size, giant hogweed can be 10 or more feet tall with flower inflorescences that can reach up to 2.5 feet across. Leaves can be 3-5 feet wide on a full grown plant and leaves are more deeply divided than the much smaller native plant. May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Manual/ mechanical
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Herbicide
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
Avoid if not controlled
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
*Imazapic and imazapyr early summer, triclopyr and glyphosate mid-summer. page 16 Controlling the spread of invasive plants
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Hogweed infestations on DOT roadsides Roads Infestations Northern Region Central Region Southeast Region
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Japanese, Giant and Bohemian knotweeds, Fallopia species
Photo courtesy Tom Heutte, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
The smooth-edged leaves are green and occur singly at each node in an alternate pattern. Tiny white or greenish flowers appear in open sprays near stem ends during July and August.
Michael Shephard, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Introduced as a garden ornamental, Japanese, Himalayan and Bohemian knotweeds are often found on roadsides and waste places in Southeast, Alaska. Knotweeds also grow on stream banks, lake shores, and beach fringes. Plants will grow up to 10 feet tall and smothers vegetation around it. Knotweed spreads by stems and roots. Southcentral Alaska has some ornamental plantings. If found outside of cultivation report it.
Knotweed infestations on DOT roadsides Roads Infestations Northern Region Central Region Southeast Region
Infested areas should be avoided and any dirt or fill material from infested areas should be disposed of in a contained area that will not allow it to grow. For disposal recommendations contact the UAF Cooperative Extension Service. May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Manual/ mechanical
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Herbicide
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Avoid if not controlled
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
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Orange hawkweed, Hieracium aurantiacum
Orange hawkweed is a small, perennial, dandelion-like herb topped with bright orange flowers.
Photo courtesy Leslie Kerr, USFWS
The short plant has unmistakable bold orange flowers, that make identification easy. No other wild aster plants in Alaska have a red-orange flower like orange hawkweed. Typically where there is one plant and flower there are many. Avoid areas with orange hawkweed present. Mowing will not prevent seed production and may contaminate equipment. Below ground roots and above ground stolons can reproduce new plants if spread to a new area. To manage hawkweed herbicides will likely be necessary. Without herbicides it may be best to avoid the area.
Hawkweed infestations on DOT roadsides Roads Infestations Northern Region
Hawkweed is not known to grow north of the Alaska Range. If you spot orange hawkweed in the interior or arctic regions of Alaka report the location immediately.
Central Region Southeast Region
Several other species of non-native hawkweeds are present in Alaska, although most are not as aggressive. May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Manual/ mechanical
N
N
N
N
N
N
Herbicide
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
Avoid if not controlled
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
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Perennial sowthistle, Sonchus arvensis
Perennial sowthistle has upright, hollow stems with bitter, milky juice throughout the plant.
Photo courtesy Darcy Etcheverry, Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District
Flowerheads are bright yellow and 1.5 inches wide. Bracts at the base of flowerheads are green, bristly and have sticky
The tall gangly dandelion is most easily identified in August when in flower. Sowthistle is prevalent in Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks, and is found in smaller patches on roadsides in more remote areas.
Sowthistle infestations on DOT roadsides Roads Infestations Northern Region
Mowing in July will prevent equipment from spreading seed. Sowthistle spreads with root fragments. Grading or otherwise transporting soil infested with sowthistle will spread it. May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Manual/ mechanical
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
Herbicide*
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Avoid if not controlled
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
*Timing varies by herbicide type. Glyphosate July or late, aminopyralid, clopyralid, 2,4-D early summer or late summer. page 22 Controlling the spread of invasive plants
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Central Region Southeast Region
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Reed canarygrass, Phalaris aurundinacea
Reed canarygrass is a rhizomatous perennial grass that can reach three to six feet in height. The sturdy, hollow stems can be up to 1/2 inch in diameter,
Photo courtesy Michael Shephard, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Introduced to much of Alaska for erosion control purposes reed canarygrass is present on many roadsides of Southeast Alaska. Reed canarygrass is tall, 5-6 feet, with a red or blonde florets. It is easiest to identify in the fall because it remains green when most other grasses have turned brown.
Canarygrass infestations on DOT roadsides Roads Infestations Northern Region
Reed canarygrass spreads by roots and seed. Dirt or fill material from infested areas should be disposed of in a contained area that will not allow it to grow. Reed canarygrass is a problem plant on streams and wetlands and prevention and control work should focus on keeping it out of or removing it from these areas. May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Manual/ mechanical
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Herbicide
Y
Y
N
N
Y
Y
Avoid if not controlled
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
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Spotted knapweed, Centaurea stoebe
Spotted knapweed can grow 1 to 3 feet tall. Basal rosette leaves are borne on short stalks and grow up to 6 inches long. Flower heads ovate to oblong and are pinkish-purple.
Photo courtesy Michael Rasy, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bugwood.org
Photo courtesy Michael Shephard, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Rare in Alaska, spotted knapweed should be reported whenever found to help with eradication efforts. Knapweed is usually found near pullouts and areas where equipment or vehicles were staged or parked.
Knapweed infestations on DOT roadsides Roads Infestations Northern Region
If found avoid the area completely. To prevent new infestations if equipment or materials are brought in from outside Alaska ensure they are certified clean of weeds or were thoroughly cleaned before being brought to the site. May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Manual/ mechanical
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
Herbicide
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
Avoid if not controlled
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Central Region Southeast Region
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Creeping thistle, Cirsium arvense
1-4 feet tall, spines on leaves, flowers 1/2 - 3/4 inch purple or white, leaf underside has soft wooly hairs.
UAF Cooperative Extension Archive, University of Alaska - Fairbanks, Bugwood.org
Widespread in Anchorage and Haines, but rare elsewhere in Alaska. If found contact the Division of Agriculture who is leading an effort to manage thistle in Anchorage and eradicate it elsewhere.
Thistle infestations on DOT roadsides Roads Infestations Northern Region
Mowing in July will keep seeds from spreading, and reduce seed production. Thistle spreads with root fragments. Grading or otherwise transporting soil infested with thistle roots or seed will spread it. May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Manual/ mechanical
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
Herbicide*
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Avoid if not controlled
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
*Timing varies by herbicide type. Glyphosate July or late, aminopyralid, clopyralid, 2,4-D early summer or late summer. page 28 Controlling the spread of invasive plants
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White sweetclover, Melilotus albus
Sweetclover has clover like leaves and numerous small white flowers. It grows up to 6 feet tall causing sighting issues, and tangles mowing equipment.
Remove Sweetclover from equipment yards (right) and gravel pits (below).
Photo courtesy Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood. org
Sweetclover will line roadsides when left unmanaged. Photo courtesy University of Alaska Anchorage Archive, Bugwood.org
Prevalent on road systems and in some gravel pits sweetclover invades glacial floodplains, burned areas and trails. Where sweetclover grows at high densities it inhibits establishment of willow.
Sweetclover infestations on DOT roadsides Roads Infestations
Time mowing of sweetclover infestations in July
Northern Region
to prevent spreading seed, and prevent tangling of machinery. Mowing a second time in August will help eliminate seed production and reduce densities over time. When possible completely remove sweetclover from areas around bridges to prevent spread downstream. May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Manual/ mechanical
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Herbicide
N
Y
N
N
N
N
Avoid if not controlled
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
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This publication is produced in cooperation with the UAF Cooperative Extension Service, Alaska Department of Transportation, U.S. Forest Service Alaska Region, Alaska Division of Agriculture and the Alaska Committee for Noxious and Invasive Plants Management.
UAF is an AA/EO employer and educational institution.
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