01043502

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/1991-04

http://scholar.google.com...oung&publication_year=2007

Management decisions concerning the spraying of herbicides on highway roadsides are evaluated on the basis of their impact on resulting environmental risk. A mathematical transport model was previously applied to the State of California with a Monte Carlo technique, and in this study the results are manipulated to evaluate the risk reduction that results from restricting herbicide application on the basis of site characteristics or changing other application practices. Results show that eliminating herbicide applications where the slope of the grass adjacent to the highway is greater than 30º has little or no effect on risk. Eliminating application where the width of the grass adjacent to the highway is less than 2 m or where soil organic carbon content is less than 0.5% can lead to significant reductions in environmental risk for certain herbicides. Additionally, limiting the width of the spray zone and applying the minimum manufacturer-suggested application rate reduce the risk to aquatic ecosystems. Applying at the minimum rate has the greatest potential to decrease risk. Results of this study show that management decisions can have a significant effect on limiting herbicide runoff risks to aquatic ecosystems. Decision makers would have to weigh costs of alternatives to herbicide spraying for controlling roadside vegetation against the environmental risk reductions.

01077199

English

pp 27-32

2007

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309104166

Print

Figures (4) ; References (10) ; Tables (4)

Aquatic life; Ecosystems; Environmental impacts; Herbicides; Monte Carlo method; Risk assessment; Risk management; Roadside; Roadside flora and fauna; Vegetation

Spraying

California

Energy; Environment; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Safety and Human Factors; I15: Environment; I60: Maintenance

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Feb 8 2007 5:35PM

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