Specifications include, but are not limited to: To reduce the potential for adverse performance and to meet USACE PL 84-99 criteria for unwanted vegetation, it is recommended all woody vegetation within 15-feet of the levee toe, including root-balls, are removed to create a “15’ vegetation clear zone” (clear zone). The USACE’s 15’ clear zone promotes effective levee maintenance/inspection and helps prevent interference with proper levee function. Where the existing right-of-way (ROW) extends slightly beyond the 15’ clear zone, removals are also recommended. Removing woody vegetation to ROW provides for additional risk reduction and more clearly defines the Levee ROW. Voids created by vegetation and root-ball removal should be backfilled and compacted in a controlled manner. See Appendix A for an example specification for the recommended work.