This spray notice completes work that began on February 10, 2022 

Notice: Spray notification to apply Capstone throughout habitat area and along the path from Pole Line Road to Covell Blvd in the Wildhorse Agricultural Buffer. This proposed application is part of the City's overall integrated pest management of the site and is a continuation of last year’s efforts, as well as a site application two weeks ago. This application will pick up where staff left off last season, as well as clean up remaining invasive weeds in the larger site.  The spraying will take place during operational hours on February 24, 2022, weather permitting.
 
Locations to spray: Throughout habitat area and along path from Pole Line Rd to Covell Blvd in the Wildhorse Agricultural Buffer

Pesticides: Capstone (Triclopyr Triethylamine Salt, Aminopyralid Triisopropanolamine Salt)

Target Pests: Short-pod mustard, black mustard, Italian thistle, yellow star thistle, milk thistle, fluvellein, stinkwort.

Methods Used and Strategies to Prevent Future Use: Mechanical cultivation is not an option because the soil disturbance will hurt or kill the native grasses.  Exposing soil could also allow for more weeds over time.  Additionally, City staff does not have the resources to go through the treatment area and hoe or hand-pull each plant to kill it and prevent seed set. The current weed infestation in the area is largely a result of deferred maintenance.  These weeds threaten the health of the established native grasses.  The weeds reduce the amount of grass cover and therefore change the composition and structure of the habitat, reducing its value.  Other weeds, including yellow star thistle, provide significant fuel for fire, burning hotter than grasses due to a high oil content.  There is no reliable way to kill these weeds using non-chemical methods at the scale they exist on the sites.

More information on the IPM Program, including the current Policies and Procedures guidance, can be found on the city's webpage: Integrated Pest Management