Integrated Vegetation Management

Our IVM specialist is dedicated to maintaining and advancing the IVM program by collaborating with DOT supervisors. The IVM specialist will be spearheading IVM initiatives and collaborations and ensuring that we are maintaining a detailed and systematic approach to continually improve our environmental stewardship of New Mexico’s roadsides.

As part of our IVM program, we’ve initiated state-wide management mapping across over 25,000 miles of our maintained roadsides. The resulting management map will document current vegetation management practices across the state and, in combination with monitoring data, will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of current management approaches and identify opportunities for improved management.

One of the biggest environmental challenges of maintaining healthy roadsides is the ongoing battle against the establishment and spread of invasive or otherwise undesirable species (weeds). A new tool that NMDOT is developing to meet this challenge is a state-wide weed population tracking system, which pulls in observations from botanical collections, agency specialists, and field documentation. This tracking system will provide the NMDOT the ability to monitor and adjust resources and strategies to control undesirable weed populations and new species invasions more efficiently and effectively.

Identifying sensitive resource areas and adjusting management accordingly is critical to good environmental stewardship of NMDOT’s roadsides. We are consequently updating all sensitive resource mapping and developing a comprehensive map of sensitive resources near our right of ways.  Upon completion of the sensitive resource mapping update, we will be reviewing current roadside management practices and adjusting as needed to ensure the latest habitat and species conservation science is being employed in our decision making.

NMDOT records roadside management activities and consolidates this information into a roadside management database. This spatially-defined record of past management approaches will be used in combination with current management mapping to identify where to place vegetation monitoring areas. The data collected within the monitoring areas will be used to assess the performance of past management actions and, where warranted, adjust our management approaches.

In addition to improving overall function and value to our roadsides by implementing the IVM program, NMDOT will be identifying areas suitable for roadside enhancement/restoration activities that would best serve the surrounding communities. These include pollinator habitat protection, revegetation of construction areas with native species, restoration of riparian and wetland habitats affected by road improvement, and development of transition zones between the roadside and adjacent properties. The initiative increases the ecological value of our roadsides while enhancing the beauty of NMDOT roadsides across the state. We will also be exploring the opportunity to develop interpretive roadside materials to inform travelers of what NMDOT is doing to enhance the ecology and beauty of the roadsides in the Land of Enchantment.

• Regulating Services are the benefits people obtain from the regulation of ecosystem processes such as stormwater management, erosion control, and pollinator habitat.
• Cultural Services are the nonmaterial benefits including tourism Scenic Byways, spiritual enrichment, and recreation.
• Provisioning Services are the products people obtain such including food, fuel, and fiber.
• Supporting Services are necessary to produce all other EGS and includes soil formation and oxygen production.

NMDOT will be updating this website regularly with additional information on how we’re executing on our vision to improve roadside vegetation management, health and value across the State. Members of our New Mexico community are encouraged to review the information provided within this website and we invite you to become an active participant in the development of our Integrated Vegetation Management Program at any time by communicating your comments, questions, and recommendations to our Maintenance Bureau and our IVM Specialist.