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USE OF GLYPHOSATE AND 2.4-D DISCONTINUED
<br />Effective April 30, 2020, the City of Louisville has
<br />discontinued the use of the herbicides containing
<br />glyphosate and 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid)
<br />on all City owned and maintained properties, except
<br />for Coal Creek Golf Course.
<br />The discontinuation of glyphosate and 2,4-D does not
<br />apply to privately owned property, City properties that
<br />are privately maintained, orjointly owned open space
<br />lands.
<br />This proactive action is in response to public con-
<br />cerns regarding the use of GPH and 2,4-D in areas that
<br />children, adults, pets, and wildlife frequent. The City re-
<br />ceived input from citizens, the Parks and Public Land-
<br />scape Advisory Board (PPLAB), and the Open Space
<br />Advisory Board (OSAB) related to the use of herbicides
<br />on public properties. Based on feedback received and
<br />direction from City Council, the City is discontinuing
<br />the use of these two herbicides.
<br />Specifically, the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space
<br />(PROS) Department will not use glyphosate or 2,4-D
<br />on City -maintained parks, playgrounds or open space,
<br />excluding Coal Creek Golf Course.
<br />PROS currently manages 1,435 acres of land within the
<br />City of Louisville following the Integrated Weed Man-
<br />agement Plan (IWMP) that was adopted in 2009. The
<br />IWMP provides weed management guidelines that
<br />take into account each method's potential hazard to
<br />people, the environment, and property while also tak-
<br />ing into consideration the limitations of budget and
<br />human resources. The IWMP supports a combination
<br />of weed control methods, including:
<br />• Prevention
<br />• Monitoring
<br />• Education
<br />• Cultural Control (revegetation)
<br />• Mechanical control (mowing, clipping, hand -
<br />pulling)
<br />• Chemical control (herbicides)
<br />Using a combination of all IWMP methods increases
<br />the effectiveness and efficiency of weed control.
<br />Chemical control will continue to be used as a weed
<br />management tool and will include both organic her-
<br />bicides (naturally occurring chemicals) and synthetic
<br />herbicides (manmade chemicals), but will no longer
<br />include the use of glyphosate and 2,4-D.
<br />"Our department follows a comprehensive weed man-
<br />agement plan and has always been cautious in our use
<br />of herbicides, including glyphosate and 2-4,D;' said
<br />Nathan Mosley, Director of Parks, Recreation & Open
<br />Space. "With recent concerns expressed by residents
<br />and direction from City Council, we have stopped
<br />using both glyphosate and 2,4-D. Our goal is to man-
<br />age pests and weeds successfully, all while minimizing
<br />potential adverse effects on people and the environ-
<br />ment"
<br />Different areas of parks, recreation, and open space
<br />use different combinations of the IWMP methods, and
<br />the discontinuation of glyphosate and 2,4-D will affect
<br />each area differently.
<br />Parks
<br />PROS has discontinued the use of GPH and 2,4-D in
<br />all City -maintained parks. Staff will manage weeds in
<br />these areas with mechanical control and organic her-
<br />bicides that will be applied following the City's newly
<br />updated policies and all applicable state and federal
<br />guidelines. Residents may notice more weeds, such as
<br />dandelions, especially in rock beds, shrub beds, and
<br />medians as our new approach will be less effective
<br />than the chemical applications used previously.
<br />Playgrounds
<br />In 2017 PROS stopped using herbicides on City -main-
<br />tained playgrounds. Staff maintains these areas with
<br />mechanical control only. Herbicides are not used near
<br />playground equipment.
<br />Open Space
<br />PROS will continue to manage weeds on open space
<br />land with a combination of all IWMP practices, includ-
<br />ing chemical control with synthetic herbicides, but
<br />discontinue the use of GPH or 2,4-D. It must be rec-
<br />ognized that different weeds require different control
<br />methods for successful reduction and elimination.
<br />In some cases, two or three methods may be used at
<br />different times throughout the year to achieve the
<br />most successful weed reduction results. When control-
<br />ling noxious weeds on open space properties, staff
<br />are careful to utilize the most effective weed control
<br />strategies. If chemical control is needed, staff selects
<br />low -toxicity herbicides and uses them at the lowest
<br />effective rates in targeted areas. With discontinuation
<br />of GPH and 2,4-D residents may notice more weeds in
<br />trailhead/parking areas, trails, and rock beds.
<br />Coal Creek Golf Course
<br />Coal Creek Golf Course will utilize IWMP practices to
<br />the maximum extent possible but, at this time, will
<br />continue to use glyphosate and 2,4-D sparingly to
<br />maintain certain areas of the golf course.
<br />Page 6 • Summer 2020
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