(April 9, 2013) – The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) has started six projects across the State to “spring clean” highway roadsides, medians and wetland sites in nine Maryland counties. Work is underway in Worcester and Howard counties to remove non-native invasive plants that cause problems with sight distance, drainage, strangle native plants and impact effectiveness of wetlands. To passersby, it may look like “pretty” trees and shrubs are being removed since many of the invasive plants have colorful flowers.
The roadside vegetation management projects involve removing a variety of invasive plants including Tree of Heaven and Callery Pear trees, often mistaken for dogwoods. If left unmanaged, invasive vines, brush and trees create safety issues by impeding sight distance and travel lanes from falling limbs or trees due to weak root systems and branches. Many areas will be re-planted with hearty, native species while others will be left free of invasive species to enable native plants to naturally flourish and spread.
“As the largest land owner in the state, SHA has the responsibility, and in some cases is required by law, to remove invasive plants and trees for safety and to protect the environment,” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters. “Unfortunately, many of the unwanted trees and plants look pretty and when we remove them, the areas will be stark. The before and after photos of previous projects show the benefit, we just need patience in between while the native plants get established.”
“Road corridors are a necessary part of modern society and they can present ideal opportunities for the protection and restoration of adjacent natural resources. Unfortunately, the edge habitat they create is a perfect breeding ground for non-native, invasive plants,” said Erik Michelsen, Executive Director of the Severn River Federation. “We applaud SHA’s commitment to eradicate invasive plants and diligent work to re-establish native plant communities along their right-of-ways. This will provide wildlife and water quality benefits, and will showcase the region’s beautiful native plants for the thousands of drivers who travel state highways each day.”
SHA completed a similar project along I-83, the Jones Falls Expressway north of Baltimore City in December 2011. This project addressed 161 acres of State-owned land adjacent to I-83, removing invasive species such as Porcelainberry, Mile-a- Minute-Vine, Oriental Bittersweet, English Ivy and other vines. Exotic invasive trees and shrubs such as Ailanthus, Multiflora Rose, Bush Honeysuckle, Russian and Autumn Olive as well as the noxious weeds Thistle and Johnsongrass were removed. Crews removed many dead and dying trees as well as invasive vines that were choking out the native vegetation. The project included reestablishment of native plants as well as evergreen trees.
“Invasive plants do not provide the kinds of habitat and food that native birds and other wildlife need to survive,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Biologist Jonathan McKnight. “Uncontrolled invasive plant populations on highway corridors act as a constant source of infestation and wreak havoc upon natural areas. Controlling noxious vegetation will certainly encourage native plants to prosper.”
These projects, expected to be complete in 2015, are an additional tool in SHA efforts to reduce noxious weeds and plants. SHA has also introduced beneficial insects, such as the Mile-a-Minute Weevil, to help eradicate highly prolific Mile-a-Minute Weed present along many corridors.
SHA’s contract crews will work along the following corridors this spring and summer:
Central Maryland
Anne Arundel County: US 50 (Blue Star Memorial Highway) from MD 2 (Ritchie Highway) to I-97.
Anne Arundel County: MD 100 from MD 10 (Arundel Expressway) to Howard County line.
Baltimore County: I-83 (Jones Falls Expressway) between I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) and the Baltimore City line.
Baltimore County: I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) from I-95 in Arbutus through Towson to US 40 (Pulaski Highway).
Howard County: I-95 between the Prince George’s County and Baltimore County lines.
Howard County: US 29 (Columbia Pike) from the Montgomery County line to MD 99.
Howard County: MD 100 from US 29 to the Anne Arundel County line.
Howard County: West Friendship and Nixon Farm Wetlands (MD 32 near MD 144 (Frederick Road).
Howard County: Schultz Farm wetland off Hanover Road near the Patapsco Valley State Park.
Eastern Shore
Worcester County: US 50 (Ocean Gateway) from MD 452 (Friendship Road) to the Wicomico County line.
Somerset County: US 13 (Ocean Highway) between Virginia line to the Wicomico County line.
Washington D.C. Suburbs
Prince George’s County: I-95/I-495 (Capital Beltway) from MD 202 (Landover Road) to I-95.
Prince George’s County: I-95 from I-495 (Capital Beltway) to the Howard County line.
Western Maryland
Carroll/Frederick/Howard and Washington counties: I-70 between I-68 (National Freeway) to the Baltimore County line.
Washington County: I-68 (National Freeway) from I-70 to Sideling Hill Mountain.
To view a list of invasive species from the Maryland Invasive Species Council, click
here.
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