Road Ecology Center

On February 3, 1999, President Clinton signed Executive Order 13112 (E.O.) which calls on state transportation agencies to work to prevent and control the introduction and spread of invasive species. Nonnative flora and fauna can cause significant changes to ecosystems, upset the ecological balance, and cause economic harm to our nation’s transportation, environmental, agricultural and recreational sectors. For example, introduced plants, such as Phragmites and purple loosestrife, throughout New York State have choked out native plant species and consequently clogged roadway drainage ways and altered environmental habitat. Transportation systems can facilitate the spread of plant and animal species outside their natural range. Those species that are likely to harm the environment, transportation safety, human health, or economy are of particular concern. The NYS Department of Transportation maintains approximately 16,500 miles of highway and annually spends over $9.1 million on vegetation management. Funding for this project is integretated as part of the normal department operational vegetation management budget. The threat from invasive species is increasing with human population growth, global trade and disturbance of the environment. Effectively dealing with the problem of invasive plant species presents a significant conservation challenge, both biologically and politically. The prevention of new plant invasions, early detection and monitoring of infestations of invasive plants, and effective control of established invasions through area-wide partnerships have been identified as key objectives in an overall national strategy for invasive plants. Stopping potentially invasive species before they spread from transportation corridors may be the best option for short-term protection. The department is implementating a proactive environmental initiative to attempt to eradicate certain existing invasive populations, and control the colonization and spread of species that have demonstrated negative effects to natural systems. Highway corridors provide opportunities for the movement of invasive species through the landscape. Invasive plant or animal species can move on vehicles and in the loads they carry. Invasive plants can be moved from site to site during spraying and mowing operations. Weed seed can be inadvertently introduced into the corridor during construction on equipment and through the use of mulch, imported soil or gravel, and sod. Some invasive plant species might be inadvertently planted in erosion control, landscape, or wildflower projects. Thousands of miles of New York State rights-of-ways traverse public and private lands. Many of these adjacent lands have weed problems and the highway rights-of-way provide corridors for further spread. NYSDOT has an opportunity to address roadside vegetation management issues on both their construction activities and maintenance programs with new levels of cooperation and communication with other state agencies and conservation organizations. Under the E.O., Federal-aid and Federal Lands Highway Program funds cannot be used to carry out actions that are likely to cause or promote the introduction or spread of invasive species in the United States or elsewhere unless all reasonable measures to minimize risk of harm have been analyzed and considered. NYSDOT plans on implementing a 10-point invasive transportation vegetation management plan consisting of the following components: (1) Developing a prioritized list of threatening flora or fauna based upon regional environments. (2) Field and GIS mapping of existing invasive populations. (3) Integration of invasive species identification and analysis as part of the department’s normal NEPA /SEQR processing. (4) Evaluation of potential impacts caused by construction or maintenance activities. (5) Development of preventive best management practices. (6) Testing, execution and evaluation of eradication measures. (7) Annual reviews and updates of the vegetation management plans. (8) Progression of innovative design solutions to reduce the opportunities for the introduction or spread of invasive species. (9) Promote a climate of interagency cooperation and sharing of coordinated research with public and private sectors. (10) Increase employee and public knowledge through outreach training of the effects of invasive species to the users. An important design component of the plan is consideration of invasive species during all phases of the environmental process. For example, during scoping, discussions with stakeholders should identify the potential for impacts from invasive species and include possible prevention and control measures. The actual NEPA analysis should include identification of any invasive terrestrial or aquatic animal or plant species that could do harm to native habitats within the project study area. In summary, the NYSDOT is committed to the integration of E.O. 13112 as part of the department’s planning, design, construction and operations programs. This E.O. came at an opportune time to become another facet of the department’s nationally recognized transportation environmental initiative.