Town proves that Non Toxic pest and weed control works!

According to Dan Diemer, Arcata's Park Superintendent, "From a management perspective, it is actually easier not to use pesticides. 

 

 

[ Pesticide Poisoning and Kids ] * [ Symptoms of Pesticide Poisoning ]
[ MEMORIAL TO VICTIMS ]

Subject:     When You Want It To, True IPM Does Work---
Date:       Fri, 12 May 2000 07:14:02 -0400
From:        Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization:     Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)

To:     Lyndon Hawkins <hawkins@empm.cdpr.ca.gov>
          Senior Research Scientist
          State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation - Integrated Pest Management

Dear Lyndon, I thought you might like to read an article from The IPM Practitioner, XXII (4) - April 2000, entitled: Pesticides Banned Again.

On February 16, 2000, the Arcata, California, City Council unanimously passed an ordinance banning pesticides on all properties owned or managed by the city.  The ordinance is unique among California cities, as it creates an outright ban on all pesticide use, rather than a phased reduction.

The ordinance directs city staff to create a pest management program that lists all pest control materials and methods.  In addition, the program educates residents about non-toxic methods.  Pesticides include fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, nematicides, rodenticides, desiccants, defoliants and other materials used to kill pests.

Arcata has already experimented with maintaining its parks and facilities without pesticides since a moratorium was first proposed.  The city's "field of dreams" semi-pro baseball field is completely managed without herbicides or other pesticides.

Special tarps covering infield dirt retard weed growth between games and tailored lawn mowing cycles fight weeds before they are established.

According to Dan Diemer, Arcata's Park Superintendent, "From a management perspective, it is actually easier not to use pesticides.  The amount of training and paperwork that is required for pesticide use is intense."  He noted that cultural maintenance practices for grass, such as timely mowing and irrigation in addition to aeration and thatching, can be just as effective as pesticides.  For pests in and around buildings, barriers and consistent sanitation practices are the first and most important line of defense.

"Arcata once sprayed herbicides on city streets and on trees and lawns in its parks," said Patty Clary, Executive Director of Arcata-based Californians for Alternatives to Toxics, which helped the city draft the new ordinance.  "Change wasn't easy, but it was successful.  We're happy to see this city create an outstanding ordinance and program that other cities can adopt for their own use."

According to Arcata vice mayor, Jennifer Hanan, "Arcata is proving that pest problems can be solved without harming people or the environment. This will surely prove as a model for other cities that care about their community's health and safety."  -- Arcata Press Release.

Well Lyndon, Does every city in California have to pass an ordinance to first ban the use of your "registered" POISONS so they can then allow the "legal" use of unregistered alternatives to safely and far more effectively control pest problems in their own California City?

Respectfully,  Stephen L. Tvedten

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