It is common for utilities in desert areas to take a two fold approach to managing vegetation in desert areas. Two different herbicides are often used, one for urban/residential areas and another for more rural areas.

Rural area treatment options:

Herbicide: Topsite

Manufacturer - SSI

Active ingredient - imazapyr. and Dyuron

This herbicide helps reduce off target damage as it is designed to stays put in the soil. Also, Topsite is not very soluble and doesn't leach into ground water and will not move down slopes unless there is a heavy rain. The active ingredient Imazapyr half life is 120 days. The active ingredient Dyuron half life is 80 days.

I want to stress that this product should only be used in rural areas to avoid potential damage to off target vegetation.

Residential

Herbicide: Pendulum 2G

Manufacturer: BASF

An application of 2 pounds per 100 square feet should be sufficient to control vegetation in residential areas.

As with any herbicide program, it is important to carefully document your applications and audit completed work for effectiveness.
Give these two herbicides a try and you will most likely see a dramatic improvement in the control of vegetation around wood poles in your area.

The use of herbicides on ROW crossing USFS land or BLM land is a fairly complex issue. On the one hand are the federal agencies and their respective goals for managing the ecosystem, on the other is the utility with the desire to maintain vegetation in the ROW to provide safe reliable service to their customers.

I, along with many others in the UVM industry contend that these two goals are not mutually exclusive of each other. In fact, there has been a tremendous amount of research to suggest that proper use of IVM (integrated vegetation management) enhances the right of way plant and animal communities. The most extensive research in this regards is the State Game Lands 33 Research and Demonstration Project that was initiated in 1952 by Drs. Bramble and Byrnes and continues today under the direction of Dr. Richard Yahner. The research proves that IVM activaties actually improves biodiversity of plant and animal communities living along and in the ROW.

In research published in 1994 the USFS acknowledges the benefits and value of herbicide use on federal land.


http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/ja/ja_mcmahon003.pdf

In this article published from the proceedings of the Southern Weed Science Society, the authors conclude that “Six roles for herbicide treatments in EM (ecosystem management) are suggested: create an maintain desired habitats; create mixed an uneven aged stands; restore damaged landscapes; control exotic, noxious and poisonous plants, maintain recreational areas, trails and scenic vistas an manage rights-of-way for multiple use.

At issue have been the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the USFS’s interpretation of that act. The USFS interpretation of NEPA requires a separate Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to be completed prior to the aerial application of any herbicide on USFS land. Considering that the average EIS would cost the utility $150,000 to $200,000 to complete, it is impractical to do. In 2005 a conglomerate of various organizations petitioned the USFS to allow for aerial application of herbicide when necessary under local Forest Service environmental impact statements where the use of herbicides has already been approved. To my knowledge this request to modify the USFS position relating to aerial herbicide application has yet to be approved.

The second issue relating to the use of herbicides, particularly foliar, basal, cut stump treatment etc. is consistent approval from USFS across multiple districts. Utilities might receive approval to use herbicides in one particular district, but have their use rejected in an adjacent area. In an attempt to rectify this situation a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the USFS and utility companies was signed in the fall of 2006 to bring consistent application of USFS policy relating to herbicide use across all districts. It remains to be seen whether or not this MOU will have a positive impact to the consistent approval to use herbicides or not.

So for your particular situation, the first step is to contact your local USFS representative to receive the “approved” list of herbicides that you would be able to use on USFS property. If the ROW stretches across multiple districts, it would be wise to meet with all the district managers, have a well detailed plan of action of where and when you plan to use herbicides and get agreement in writing from the USFS as to their approval of your plan.