The concept of integrated roadside vegetation management (IRVM) has a relatively long history in the state of Iowa; groundwork was underway as early as the mid-1970s to establish one of the nation’s first IRVM programs. The goal of this program was to provide an alternative to typical roadside management practices. These practices, including the extensive use of mowing and herbicides, were often too costly to implement on a regular basis, were frequently ineffective, and contributed to an increased potential for groundwater contamination.

IRVM integrates the use of native vegetation with appropriate management techniques to produce a cost-effective, environmentally sound management alternative for roadside weed and erosion control. To achieve Iowa’s IRVM objectives, the State IRVM Plan is implemented along state highways through the coordination of the Iowa Department of Transportation. Additionally, many counties have adopted a county IRVM plan for managing vegetation along their roadsides. Fully-developed county IRVM programs employ a full-time roadside manager and are coordinated at the state level by the IRVM office located at the University of Northern Iowa.

To date, more than 50,000 acres of state and county roadsides in Iowa have been planted to prairie grasses and wildflowers. Many of these plantings have been funded by the Living Roadway Trust Fund, and all help to achieve the objectives of integrated roadside vegetation management.

Learn more about the successful use of IRVM at the county level in Linn County's "Enhancing Roadsides" flyer. (1.8MB)
 

Using a controlled burn to reduce weeds and enhance prairie.