1. Alaska Department of
Transportation & Public Facilities
April 2014 Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.
Integrated Vegetation Management PlanIntegrated Vegetation Management Plan
Michael J. Coffey
Chief, Statewide Maintenance and Operations

2. Vegetation Management Facts
• 5,600 centerline miles
of roadway
• Cut over 10,000 lane
miles per year
• Current annual cost is
$4M statewide

3. • Maintain roadway sight distance
• Reduce wildlife strikes
• Maintain sign visibility
• Reduce collision targets
• Provide solar exposure to minimize winter icing
• Prevent degradation of road surface
• Prevent degradation of guardrail and fences
• Provide aesthetic value
• Preserve environmental and economic condition of adjacent
properties
• Prevent biological pollution (i.e., noxious and invasive weeds)

8. Guardrail Vegetation Management

9. SAGA
The Southeast Alaska Guidance Association (SAGA)
& the Alaska Service Corps

10. Invasive Species
Invasive Species Problems Statewide:
•Southeast
o Knotweed
•Central
o Thistle
•Northern
o Thistle, WSC, Vetch

11. Mechanical Methods

12. M&O Best Management Practices
(BMPs) to Avoid the Spread of Invasives
• Cleaning vehicles and equipment regularly
• Re-vegetating with native, local, and/or non-invasive
plants
• Identifying and avoiding contaminated areas
• Working from uninfested to infested areas
• Coordinating with local groups that are managing
invasive species
• Timing mowing (if possible) to prevent seed production
of invasive plants
• Using certified weed-free materials
• Scouting for invasive plants prior to performing
maintenance activities
• Recording and reporting invasive plants

13. ADEC Regulation Change
• New ADEC regulations became effective on March
7, 2013
• Eliminated the requirement for pesticide-use permits
for most applications on state-owned lands.
• However, state agencies are required to develop
and implement an Integrated Pest Management
Plan (IPM Plan) prior to applying pesticides on state
lands or rights-of-way.
• The DOT&PF IVMP is a type of IPM Plan

14. REQUIREMENTS PRIOR TO
HERBICIDE APPLICATION
• Notify ADEC 15 days before each proposed application, including
multiple application projects, as defined within 18 AAC 90.640(d).
• Two consecutive public notices for planned herbicide applications will
be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected
area, no later than 30 days before the date of scheduled single or
multiple application projects as required by 18 AAC 90.640(b). This
notice will include:
• The location of the application
• The complete name and EPA registration number of the
herbicide(s)
• The target pests
• The method of application
• For multiple application projects, the approximate number of
applications to be made
• How the public can receive more information about the proposed
application

15. ADOT&PF’s IVMP
• First IVMP dated July 2013
• Posted ADEC webpage
• First IVMP Effective Dates: July 2013 – July 2015
• Revised IVMP currently posted on ADEC site
• Revised IVMP Effective Dates: April 2014 – April 2016
• IVMP covers public rights-of-ways, airports, and other
lands and facilities owned or leased by ADOT&PF
• IVMP Goal - The primary goal of vegetation management
throughout ADOT&PF lands is to improve public safety
and protect infrastructure

16. Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3

17. The Zone Concept
Zone 3

18. Vegetation Control Methods
 Preventative
 Mechanical
 Chemical

19. Vegetation Control Methods
 Chemical
• Aquamaster (Glyphosate)
• RoundUp Ready-to-Use Weed and
Grass Killer III (Glyphosate)
• Habitat (Imazapyr)
• Garlon 3A, 4, and 4 Ultra (Triclopyr)
• Milestone (Aminopyralid)
• Transline (Clopyralid)
• Escalade 2 (2, 4-D, Floroxpyr,
Dicamba)
• Escort XP (Metsulfuron methyl)
• Telar XP (Chlorsulfuron)

20. When Herbicide May Be Used
Highways
•Zone 1: When vegetation is present, including
noxious weeds
•Zone 2: When tall vegetation begins to obstruct
sightlines, when woody vegetation is present, or if
noxious weeds are present
•Zone 3: When noxious weeds are present
•All cases: When woody vegetation is growing up
through guard rail or within fence lines

21. When Herbicide May Be Used
Airports
•When tall herbaceous vegetation or woody
vegetation obstructs critical airport infrastructure,
such as the runway, landing lights, or approaches
•When vegetation is damaging pavement or gravel
runways
•When woody vegetation is growing up through
fence lines
•When noxious weeds are present

22. • Although written for M&O, the plan applies to anyone working
in the department’s right-of-way
• The plan is available to be utilized on DOT&PF construction
projects, but must be coordinated with Mike Coffey
• The ADNR, Copper River Watershed Project, and the
Southeast Alaska Soil Water Conservation District have all
applied herbicides under our IVMP. In addition, we are
working with the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
on the peninsula and have had ongoing
discussions with BLM.
IVMP Partnering Opportunities

23. • An ADEC pesticide-use permit is required for
application to water, including wetlands
• The permitting process is rigorous, and takes
between100 days to over a year to complete
• For now, DOT&PF will limit application to uplands
Certified Applicator Training
Required

24. Step 1 - Choose the Best Tool: Consider the most appropriate tool for vegetation management, including non-chemical maintenance
measures, and identify when plan implementation will be most effective based on the vegetative lifecycle. If herbicide is to be used,
choose the one that will be most effective from Table 1 of the IVMP.
Step 2 - Make a Plan: Consider the potential costs associated with your project, the personnel you will have and/or work with to
complete the task, and come up with a timeline that accounts for the agency and public cooperation that is required (consult
Notification Schedule for guidance in Step 6). Compile maps/visuals to show your project area.
Step 3 - Contact Mike Coffey to begin coordination.
Step 4 – Fill out the Pre-application Checklist. This is available on the DOT IVMP website.
Step 5 – Notify the public via two consecutive public notices. Information required to be in the public notices is on the DOT&PF
IVMP website. The second notice must be published 30 days before spraying takes place.
Step 6 – Apply for a Lane Closure permit through DOT’s Right-of-Way (ROW section). This gives you permission to work in the DOT
ROW. For this, you must submit a traffic control plan and paperwork form Mike Coffey confirming that you have completed the Pre-
application checklist and posted your public notice ads.
Step 7 – Notify the ADEC and Mike Coffey at least 15 days before spraying so information can be posted on the ADEC website
Step 8 – Apply herbicides according to labels, and state and federal regulations using only ADEC-certified pesticide applicators,
keeping track of rates of application, areas of application, and total amount(s) used. Details from spraying will be put in the final
checklist, so have that with you when you spray or review it beforehand.
Step 9 – Complete the Post-application checklist and submit it to Mike Coffey
Step 10 – Keep herbicide spraying records for two years. DOT&PF will also keep records of your paperwork and will publish a
report on their website for each herbicide applied to more than 20 acres in a calendar year.
Steps to Using the DOT&PF IVMP

25. Summary
• The ultimate goal of vegetation management is
public safety
• Mechanical methods are - and will continue to be
- the primary method of vegetation management
for DOT&PF
• Herbicide use is a valuable tool
 Use will be limited, selective, and targeted
 Important tool for controlling invasive species
• All vegetation management will be conducted in
an environmentally-sound manner

26. Herbicide Application to Date NR
Boundary Airport Before Boundary Airport After

27. Herbicide Application to Date NR
Boundary Airport Equip. Boundary Airport Equip.

28. Herbicide Application to Date NR
Alaska Hwy MP 1382-1385
& 1409-1410
Alaska Hwy MP 1382-1385
& 1409-1410

29. Herbicide Application to Date NR
Alaska Hwy MP 1382-1385
& 1409-1410
Alaska Hwy MP 1382-1385
& 1409-1410

30. Herbicide Application to Date NR
2014 IVMP Herbicide Application Summary
District or Cooperator Roadway/Town Status Summary of Locations
Who Performed
Application
Predominant Vegetation
Tok District - DOTPF Alaska Highway Applied - 2013
Both sides of road: MP 1383-1385, MP 1409-1410 Guardrail: MP
1381.48 (south), MP 1382.48 (north), MP 1384.86 (both sides)
Salcha-Delta Soil and Water Conservation
District
Willow, small brush
Copper River Watershed Project Copper River Hwy MP 3.75-4 Applied - 2014 Road shoulder Zone 2 Copper River Watershed Project Invasive (reed canarygrass)
Tok District - DOTPF Boundary Airport Applied - 2014 On runway
Salcha-Delta Soil and Water Conservation
District
Grass, herbaceous
Valdez District - DOTPF Richardson Highway Site Visit - 2014 50 sections of guardrail visited; approximately half approved for application Trees, shrubs, herbaceous
Tok District - DOTPF Richardson Highway Site Visit - 2014 26 sections of guardrail visited; parts of all but 3 sites approved for application Willow, small brush
Salcha-Delta Soil and Water Conservation
District
Delta Junction - (Richardson
Highway, Tanana Loop Rd. &
Extension, Jack Warren
Extension, Clearwater Rd., School
Rd.)
Site Visit - 2014 18 sites visited; over half approved for application
Invasive plants, including bird vetch,
white/yellow sweet clover, sow thistle,
toad flax
Fairbanks District - DOTPF Richardson Highway Site Visit - 2014 32 sites visited; approximately 3/4 of proposed sites approved for application Willow
Fairbanks District - DOTPF Steese Highway MP 2-27 Site Visit - 2014 19 sites visited; majority of sites approved for application Willow
Fairbanks District - DOTPF Chena Hot Springs Road Site Visit - 2014 7 sites visited; approximately half approved for application Willow
Fairbanks District - DOTPF Elliott Highway Site Visit - 2014 Guardrail sites approved for application with the exception of 4 sites Willow
Fairbanks District - DOTPF Chena Pump/Chena Ridge Site Visit - 2014 7 sites visited; all approved for application with one exception Willow
Fairbanks District - DOTPF Steese Highway MP 80-128 Requires Visit - 2015
Fairbanks District - DOTPF
Parks Highway/Mitchell
Expressway
Requires Visit - 2015
Denali District - DOTPF Parks Highway Requires Visit - 2015

32. ADNR Anchorage Application
Aquamaster
Filling the tank with water
Milestone and
Backpack sprayer
Garlon 3A

33. ADNR Anchorage Application
Tractor Boom Sprayer

34. ADNR Anchorage Application
ATV Boom Sprayer

35. ADNR Anchorage Application
Skid Boom Sprayer with Hose Reel and
Handgun Applicator

36. ADNR Application Results
July 22nd
July 22nd July 28th
July 28th

37. ADNR Application Results
July 14th
July 14th
September 24th
September 24th

38. ADNR Application Results
August 7th
August 7th
September 2nd
October 8th

39. ADNR Application Results
September 23rd
September 23rd
October 8th
October 8th

40. Herbicide Application to Date CR

41. Herbicide Application to Date CR

42. Sterling Highway
Parks Highway
Herbicide Application 2015 CR
Roadway Begin MP End MP
Roadway Side
(Left, Right)
TotalDist Description of Problem Area(s)
Sterling Hwy (1st priority) 115 145 both 30 center miles woody veg
Sterling Hwy (2nd priority) 145 170 both 25 center miles woody veg
PeninsulaDistrict - Locations for Herbicide Application2015
Roadway Begin MP End MP
Roadway Side
(Left, Right)
Total Dist Description of Problem Area(s)
Parks 22.78 33.97 left and right 11.2 heavy brush
Parks 68.953 77.73 left and right 8.8 heavy brush
Parks 81 87.82 left and right 6.8 heavy brush

43. Herbicide Application 2015 CR

44. Herbicide Application 2015 CR

45. Southeast Soil and Water Conservation District

46. Thank You