Small changes to protocols can make a big difference

As part of a 3 year EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant, we reached out to local roadway crews to re-check and control 2,577 populations of teasel, wild parsnip, Phragmites and Japanese knotweed which were mapped by residents in 2013 within rights-of-way. During the project, another 1,836 populations were mapped (an increase of 71%), indicating poor roadway management protocols resulting in the spread of these species over the past 7 years.  2,224 populations were treated with grant funding and roadway managers were given tools to identify and control the target species long-term.  The project also included re-surveying target roadway populations that have spread to adjacent properties and providing educational information packets to affected property owners. The 403 adjacent roadway populations mapped in 2013 increased to 1,430 by 2020 (255% increase) demonstrating that poor roadway management has direct and detrimental impact to adjacent property owners. You can help your roadway managers to improve their management protocols.  Contact your local government and request that they follow our Roadside Invasive Plant Management Plan.