Update! The city has decided not to apply the herbicides Tenacity and Barricade to city lawns and playing fields—at least this year. And city manager Jane Brautigam says the city's IPM (integrated pest management) policy is "out of date." We agree! See the Daily Camera coverage. To send your thanks and encourage the city to implement a strong policy that emphasizes nontoxic alternatives, you can e-mail city council members at council@bouldercolorado.gov, along with the city manager, Jane Brautigam, at brautigamj@bouldercolorado.gov. For more details on the proposed herbicides and alternatives, check out this letter to city council. |
Herbicides on Boulder’s lawns and playing fields?
The City of Boulder Integrated Pest Management Subcommittee has recommended adding a number of pesticides to the city’s “toolbox.” Included are two new herbicides to use on turf: Tenacity and Barricade.
City staff point out that these products are less toxic than many others. But the risks of pesticides aren’t limited to acute toxicity. Here’s from the city's own staff report:
Tenacity
Tenacity "may … be neurotoxic to fetuses, babies and children. … Expectant mothers, infants and children should not come into contact with or have any exposure to Tenacity.”
Barricade’s active ingredient, prodiamine,
“is a suspected endocrine disruptor.”
“is a possible carcinogen.”
presents a “potential risk to aquatic systems.”
Can’t you just wait until the herbicide dries and then go back on the grass?
The soil half-life of Tenacity's active ingredient is 5 to 15 days. That means half the chemical will still be in the soil 5 to 15 days after application. (source)
The half-life of Barricade's active ingredient is 2 months! (source)
There are safer alternatives!
We recommend that the city train its staff in organic turf care. Training for lawn-care professionals is available right now, from a number of sources!
It’s not too late!
The city has not yet approved the committee's recommendation. If you don’t want Boulder to start using herbicides on its lawns and playing fields, e-mail city council members at council@bouldercolorado.gov, along with the city manager, Jane Brautigam, at brautigamj@bouldercolorado.gov.