Managing Noxious Weeds
Noxious weeds are plants designated as harmful to agricultural crops, natural habitats, or ecosystems, often growing aggressively and causing significant ecological damage.
Definition and Characteristics:
A noxious weed is defined as a plant that has been classified by agricultural or governing authorities as harmful to crops, natural habitats, or even humans and livestock. These weeds typically exhibit the following characteristics:
Aggressive Growth: Noxious weeds grow rapidly and can outcompete native plants for resources.
High Reproductive Rates: They often produce large quantities of seeds or vegetative propagules, allowing them to spread quickly.
Lack of Natural Predators: Many noxious weeds thrive in new environments because they lack natural herbivores or diseases that would normally control their populations.
The Kentucky Noxious Weed Law, KRS 176.051, regulates (12) designated weed species on state-maintained highways and requires KYTC to control them. The list of Noxious Weeds is selected with input from various stakeholders, including KYTC and groups representing agriculture, commerce, and the environment. KYTC reviews the list periodically and then recommends changes for legislative approval.
KYTC utilizes integrated roadside vegetation management (IRVM) to control noxious weeds.
Mechanical Control: Right-of-Way Mowing, Mulching head mowers
Cultural Control: Seeding, Landscape mulching
Biological Control: Release of biological agents, such as insects that feed only on a target pest plant
Chemical Control: Herbicides provide effective and economical control with minimal environmental impact.
Noxious Weeds Treatment Program
Noxious and nuisance weeds treated using chemical control include:
- Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii)
- Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)
- Common Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)
- Cutleaf Teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus)
- Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
- Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense)
- Kudzu (Pueraria montana)
- Marestail (Conyza canadensis)
- Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
- Musk or Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans)
- Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
- Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe)
Participation in the Noxious Weeds Treatment Program
Property owners actively treating any of the noxious weeds listed above on their private property may request treatment of nuisance weeds on the adjacent state-owned right-of-way. Please note that private property will not be treated; requests only apply to state right-of-way areas.
To participate in the program, visit our Maintenance Forms Library, download and fill out Form TC 71-226, and send it to your KYTC Highway District Office.
Use our "Find Your Highway District" tool below to find your district. Contact information for the program is included in the District Pesticide Discharge Management Plans below.
Pesticide Discharge Management Plans
To learn more about the pesticides used in our Noxious Weeds Program, please see our Pesticide Guidance Manual or view our Pesticide Labels.
Use our "Find Your Highway District" tool below to find your district. Then click on your district's Pesticide Discharge Management Program to learn more.
District 1 Pesticide Discharge Management Plan
District 2 Pesticide Discharge Management Plan
District 3 Pesticide Discharge Management Plan
District 4 Pesticide Discharge Management Plan
District 5 Pesticide Discharge Management Plan
District 6 Pesticide Discharge Management Plan
District 7 Pesticide Discharge Management Plan
District 8 Pesticide Discharge Management Plan
District 9 Pesticide Discharge Management Plan
District 10 Pesticide Discharge Management Plan
District 11 Pesticide Discharge Management Plan
District 12 Pesticide Discharge Management Plan
