City ponders weed control

SANDPOINT — A new Integrated Weed Management Plan proposes to improve and protect Sandpoint's environment.

The plan, created by weed and forestry specialist Jared Yost, covers all civic properties in the community.

One of its goals is to "minimize the quantity and toxicity of chemicals used for weed management," according to the plan.

The IWM calls for city workers to assess each situation individually and determine which treatment or combination of treatments would work the best rather than immediately spraying emergent weeds with chemical herbicides.

The city's first approach to weed control would be cultural. This typically involves maintaining dense turf that prevents weeds from sprouting, according to Oregon State University's National Forage and Grasslands Curriculum.

The next strategy would employ biological or mechanical methods. Biological weed control includes the use of animals or insects to eliminate emergent weeds while mechanical methods include tilling and mowing, said OSU.

According to the plan, natural herbicides would be the next course of action. If all else failed, the city would turn to chemical herbicides.

"It narrows the opportunities for using chemical-based herbicides," said Yost during a presentation of the IWM at the March 16 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.

"It's going to push us out of our comfort zone of what we did in the past," said Kim Woodruff, Parks and Recreation Department director.

"The overall goal of this program is to have green spaces throughout the city of Sandpoint inspected on a regular basis and provide timely maintenance that is appropriate to the use and function of the green space," according to the plan.

Athletic field turf and other high maintenance areas would get top priority due to the need for safety, says, but natural herbicides would be the city's first line of defense.

The parks would be second in priority. To manage nuisance weeds like dandelions, the city would employ cultural, mechanical and biological approaches, with natural herbicides included as necessary. Weed management in undeveloped green spaces and low maintenance areas would consist mainly of mowing.

Before resorting to chemical herbicides in any civic areas, the plan would require maintenance managers to go through an herbicide request procedure. In addition, city officials must issue advance notice to the public of impending herbicide treatment. They would post signs at least 72 hours before the treatment takes place.

IWM recommends manual weeding, composting and hand-applied natural herbicides, such as soap and vinegar solutions, in landscaped beds.

Along the city's shorelines, swales and aquatic habitats, IWM calls for a ban on toxic weed treatments. The ban would protect the quality of the water and the surrounding environment.

"Maybe the tradeoff for less herbicide use is a lower level of service," said Woodruff. More dandelions and clover may crop up in city parks, he said.

However, he thinks people are more attuned to environmentally friendly weed control practices than in the past. "Maybe we can set an example for some of the citizens," Woodruff said.

The Parks and Recreation Commission voted to recommend the proposed Integrated Weed Management Plan for City Council approval in April.

Yost acknowledged IWM is a work in progress.

"We know there will be changes made to it. We will revisit it next year,” he said.