To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, Sonoma County Water Agency Board of Directors, Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Board of Directors, Community Development Commission Board of Commissioners
Department or Agency Name(s): Permit Sonoma, Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, Community Development Commission, Sonoma County Public Infrastructure, Regional Parks, Agriculture/Weights & Measures, and Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Sonoma County Water Agency Kevin Booker (521-1865), Regional Parks Hattie Brown (565-3220), Permit Sonoma Alisa Keenan (565-2518), Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Catherine Iantosca (565-7262), Community Development Commission Marc Chandler (565-7524), Sonoma Public Infrastructure, Greg Chiossi (565-7579) Agriculture/Weights & Measures Sue Ostrom (565-3836) General Services Mike Volatile (565-1957)
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Annual Countywide Landscape Management Report FY 23/24
End
Recommended Actions:
Recommended action
Accept the Countywide Annual Landscape Management Report FY 23/24
end
Executive Summary:
On June 4, 2019, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water), the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (Ag + Open Space), and the Board of Commissioners of the Sonoma County Community Development Commission (CDC) passed concurrent Resolution #19-0246, establishing pest management policies and prohibiting the use of synthetic pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides in sensitive areas. Among the goals of Resolution #19-0246 were to reduce human contact with synthetic herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides through the reduction of application and use in public spaces and to have a publicly available list of “no synthetic spray” zones to enhance transparency and accountability.
Resolution #19-0246 directed Permit Sonoma staff to prepare an annual report on the pesticide use of the four agencies.
Pursuant to Resolution #19-0246, Regional Parks, Sonoma County Public Infrastructure, General Services, Permit Sonoma, Agriculture/Weights & Measures, Sonoma Water, Ag + Open Space, and the CDC are providing this annual report for the 2023/2024 fiscal year.
Discussion:
2023/2024 Vegetation Management Summary
Since the adoption of Resolution 19-0246 in June 2019, the use of herbicides, including glyphosate, has decreased by Sonoma County Regional Parks, Sonoma Water, Ag + Open Space, and the Community Development Commission. This is primarily due to the development and implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans and related policies, prioritization of the use of physical, biological, and mechanical controls over the use of chemical controls, and the establishment of a policy that using chemicals for vegetation management should be implemented on a limited basis and when no other alternative is deemed feasible.
Rainfall also plays a significant role in vegetation management needs. Rainy seasons with high rain fall will result in more vegetation removal needs, including the need to use herbicides for effective removal. Lower rainfall and drought years will generally have less vegetation management activities. Additionally, short, intense rain events can also result in rapid and repetitive vegetation growth, keeping soils saturated for longer periods of time, resulting in frequent revegetation.
In FY23/24, overall herbicide use rose slightly from the prior year but remains well below levels of usage in earlier periods. Similarly, the overall use of Glyphosate increased in FY23/24, but is still lower than prior to Resolution No. 19-0246 being adopted.
Total Glyphosate use since adopting IPM practices countywide:
2020/2021= 98 gallons
2021/2022= 150 gallons
2022/2023= 427 gallons
2023/2024= 670 gallons
Of the 670 gallons applied in 2023/2024, 619 gallons were applied by SPI, in response to increased vegetation resulting from the heavy rainfall delivered during the 2023-2024 winter season.
While IPM practices and related policies have reduced the overall use of herbicides, the use of herbicides continues to be a necessary practice, even on a limited and reduced basis. The amount of herbicide use will continue to vary year-to-year and between departments. Total rainfall will continue to play a primary factor on the need for herbicide use and account for future fluctuations.
Ag + Open Space
Ag + Open Space is committed to avoiding the use of synthetic pesticides in sensitive areas, and to support this commitment has compiled all known information regarding sensitive species and habitats that occur on its properties. Ag + Open Space implements an integrated approach in which synthetic pesticides are used conservatively and only as necessary, and will not use a synthetic pesticide unless: 1) there is no other option available to control an extreme infestation; 2) the environmental benefit is clear, and outweighs the negative impacts of continued weed infestation; 3) only licensed professionals are involved in the application; 4) there is minimal risk of harmful exposure to humans or to sensitive resources; and 5) the application is part of an intentional strategy to transition over time to alternative methods of invasive species control such as mechanical removal, grazing, or prescribed burning.
Community Development Commission
In addition to measures that ensure safe and sanitary housing, the CDC is responsible for weed and other fire abatement measures. CDC contracts with property management companies for landscape services. When practical, manual controls such as mowing and debris removal are employed. In certain cases, vendors used Round-Up, which was limited to small areas around the Russell Avenue property.
The CDC is committed to the responsible good stewardship of agency owned and managed properties while working to ensure it meets the obligations of providing safe and sanitary housing, employing best practices at commercial properties, and effectively mitigating weeds and other pest and fire hazards. CDC is fully engaged with vendors in monitoring their pesticide and herbicide use on CDC owned properties and in using the most suitable organic alternatives available and to further work on prevention measures to avoid issues from arising.
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Regional Parks
Regional Parks is committed to reducing the risk of toxin exposure for both people and pets that use the parks. Regional Parks uses a range of techniques to manage vegetation including grazing, prescribed fire, mowing, weed whacking, and construction of shaded fuel breaks, as well as pesticides when necessary. Regional Parks is committed to eliminating the use of synthetic pesticides for routine, ongoing maintenance to control invasive weeds. Regional Parks maintains the use of synthetic pesticides to treat and control specific, targeted pest invasions when other means of control are inadequate. All pesticide use is reported to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation through the Sonoma County Department of Agriculture/ Weighs & Measures. Regional Parks has decreased the use of pesticides over the last 10 years. Use of all pesticides, including glyphosate, are extremely low, while the acres of land Regional Parks owns and operates is at an all-time high.
Sonoma Water
Sonoma Water is responsible for maintaining buildings and facilities for water supply, flood control, and sanitation across Sonoma County. In addition, Sonoma Water manages approximately 75 miles of engineered flood control channels and 100 miles of modified or natural channels for flood water conveyance and habitant enhancement. Sonoma Water uses a range of methods to meet its ongoing flood management requirements, as well as safely maintaining vegetation around its various facilities, while also meeting multiple objectives such as resource protection and environmental sustainability. These methods include sediment removal, bank stabilization, and various vegetation management activities such as hand and mechanical removal, grazing, and prescribed burning. Sonoma Water uses the minimum amount of herbicide necessary to control invasive plant species that are problematic for its water supply, wastewater, and flood control facilities. Sonoma Water uses a blended outlook within the stream maintenance program. Herbicides are used only when necessary, and will not be used unless: a) there is no other reasonable option available; b) the environmental benefit is clear; c) only licensed professionals are involved in the application; d) there is minimal risk of harmful exposure to sensitive receptors; and e) the application is part of an overall strategy to reduce herbicide usage over time and to seek out alternative methods of invasive species control such as animal grazing.
Sonoma County Public Infrastructure
The Sonoma County Campus is maintained by Sonoma County Public Infrastructure. Within areas of responsibility of the County campus and other County facilities (formerly the General Services Department), there are no landscape management responsibilities by County staff involving the use of pesticides or herbicides. Through its contracts with outsourced landscape contractors, SPI does ensure that firms comply with County policy regarding chemical use on County properties.
With regards to the 1,368 miles of roadway, refuse sites, road yards, and the airport property that SPI manages, it utilizes mechanical control of vegetation as much as possible and avoids the use of synthetic herbicides in sensitive areas and makes herbicide applications in a manner that minimizes risk to human health and the environment. In fiscal year 2023/2024 the Department used only glyphosate and triclopyr registered for aquatic and terrestrial use as post-emergent herbicides, even though applicators do not spray into water.
Prior Board Actions:
12/12/2023 The Board received the 2022/23 vegetation management annual report.
12/06/2022 The Board received the 2021/22 vegetation management annual report.
12/16/2021 The Board received the 2020/21 vegetation management annual report.
12/15/2020: The Board approved the 2019/20 vegetation management annual report.
04/07/2020: The Board approved the 2018/19 vegetation management annual report.
01/14/2020: The Board approved the submitted maps of the designated “No Synthetic Spray” Zones.
06/04/2019: The Board approved by Resolution #19-0246 adopting countywide policies on pesticide use and reporting. 11/07/2017: Board amends the Sonoma County Uniform Rules for Agricultural Preserves and Farmland Security Zones (Resolution No. 17-0438)
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There are no staffing impacts related to this item.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
23/24 Annual Vegetation Management Report
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
NA