IDAHO NATIONAL
Idaho
Transportation |
Photograph of invasive weeds to receive award The beauty found along Idahos highways and interstates is both good fortune and good planning. Protecting and enhancing the natural beauty often requires planting and nurturing native vegetation and preventing the intrusion of noxious weeds. Two ITD employees captured Idahos roadside vegetation in the form of photographs and entered a national competition sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Dan Bryant and Cathy Ford submitted photographs in the invasive species category of the 2003 Photo Opportunity competition. And one of those entries was awarded first place, according to Sherie Sweaney who coordinates the highway beautification efforts for ITD. The question remains, though, which entry won first place? That has not been determined yet, she said. Bryant, the Banks maintenance foreman, was awarded a first place in 2001 for a photo of vegetation management. District 3 colleague Jack Gant won the same year for planted native wildflowers. Another ITD employee, Bruce Drews, also received a first place in 1998 for his vegetation management photo. Invasive species was added to the competition this year, joining:
FHWA administrator Mary E. Peters recently announced ITDs award in a letter to director Dave Ekern. She did not elaborate which of the entries merited top honors, however. The winner will receive a crystal plaque from the Boise FHWA office. The purpose of the competition is to honor photography submitted by state departments of transportation that depict roadside vegetation programs , Peters wrote. The winning photograph will be included in FHWA presentations, public awareness campaigns and an Earth Day Planner. It also will be included in the FHWA newsletter Greener Roadsides. Sweaney said ITD is collecting photographs now for next
years competition. Any department worker with a good eye for photography
can send photos representing one of the above categories to her at Headquarters.
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