City Council Agenda and Packet 2020 02 25 SP

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SUBJECT: INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT PLAN/HERBICIDE USE DATE: FEBRUARY 25, 2020 PAGE3OF6 most two times per year but in trying to reduce herbicide use, the City for many years has only conducted one application per year. For these types of herbicide applications, two types of chemicals account for the majority of use. • Glyphosate is the non -selective herbicide primarily used in the City's parks for spot spraying. "Roundup" is a common Glyphosate brand people associate with this chemical. Glyphosate is one of the most commonly used non -selective herbicides. In 2019, Parks staff and contractors used approximately 14 gallons of Glyphosate City wide. • 2, 4-D (2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) is the selective herbicide primarily used in the City's parks for broadleaf control. There are many choices for selective control but 2, 4-D remains one of the commonly used and most effective herbicides. In 2019, Parks staff used 12 gallons of 2, 4-D. Herbicide use has been reduced by only applying one selective broadleaf application each spring. This application helps control highly visible weeds such as dandelions, but also controls weeds such as puncture vine, bindweed, and a variety of thistles in addition to a long list of other weeds. This approach allows staff to effectively control a wide variety of weed populations with a relatively small amount of herbicide strategically applied. Herbicide use has also been reduced by applying mechanical control (mowing) instead of herbicides to control weeds in the City's greenways. Greenways are the non -irrigated park properties within the City. Not to be mistaken with open space properties, greenways are routinely mowed (open space properties are primarily left un-mowed) and thus herbicide applications are greatly reduced on many of these properties. Whichever application is used, all herbicides are applied in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. The City only uses herbicides that are legally registered by the EPA and applied in compliance with EPA regulations. All City applicators are either licensed or monitored by a qualified supervisor licensed by the CDA for applying pesticides. Open Space Open Space staff rely heavily on the principals of the IWMP as a means to find the most appropriate and responsible method of control for noxious and nuisance weeds on open space properties. Different types of weeds (annual, biennial and perennial) require different approaches for successful control and eradication. The Colorado Department of Agriculture mandates eradication of List A species, containment of List B species and supports municipal control of List C species. CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION