1. A. The authority of this manual is given in Act No. 682 of the Regular Session of the State Legislature of 1989. Under normal budgetary conditions, the vegetation control guidelines as described herein should be followed as closely as possible. However, during times of severe budget restraints when state revenues are not available to fund this vegetation control policy, it may be necessary to adjust guidelines to operate within the reduced budget. Items addressed in this manual include: Guidelines and Categories of Roadside Vegetative Maintenance, Herbicides, Wildflowers and Landscaping. Deviation from policies in this manual must have written approval of the DOTD chief landscape architect and the DOTD chief engineer. Roadside vegetative maintenance guidelines are intended to accomplish the following objectives:

   1. 1. provide for safety of the traveling public;
   2. 2. blend the roadside with adjacent land uses;
   3. 3. improve aesthetic quality;
   4. 4. reduce erosion;
   5. 5. increase efficiency of maintenance operations.

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 47:820.6.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Transportation and Development, LR 17:204 (February 1991), amended LR 26:1645 (August 2000).