Integrated Pesticide Management. Chemical Trespass/Herbicide, 1995

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Other program features include mandatory State certification of all employees involved in weed and pest control activities, mandatory annual refresher training and detailed, automated record - keeping using a computer program developed by Parks Services and ISD staffs. Our pest control methods have gained national recognition and we receive frequent requests for information from other public agencies throughout the United States and Canada. Where other workable control options are not effective or do not provide sufficient control, chemical methods are still employed. The scope of any such application is limited to the observed, verified problem in question and the appropriate A.L.D. for the area and pest involved. The result is minimum usage of chemical agents and the employment of those with the least potential for non - target impact in each specific case. Another essential key to this provision of effective maintenance with mini- mum non - target impact and cost is the retention of decision - making ability and flexibility (within the IPM guidelines) by the individual park specialist in the field. These members of our staff, trained, State certified, environ- mentally oriented and supervised by others who are knowledgeable in IPM tech- niques, are in the best position to discover and deal with a potential prob- lem while it is small - before dramatic, high- impact methods are necessary. The above can be further illustrated by tracing a specific example. In the spring of 1985, we learned of an infestation of scale insects in the maple a and hornbeam trees planted between and adjacent to the Convention Center and Hult Center. It was strongly requested that the trees be sprayed to prevent their loss to this pest. Inspection by IPM trained staff revealed that, while the trees were in stress and scale was present, the scale were not present in sufficient numbers to be the cause of the problem. Further analysis revealed that improper planting and environmental stress had weakened the trees and the presence of scale was only an additional symptom of the real problem. The trees were fertilized using soil injection to invigorate them and counter- act the environmental stress. We then went to work to eliminate or minimize the conditions puttting stress on the trees. Irrigation has been modified, excess mulch and soil have been removed from tree wells, grates have been pur- chased and installed and an annual fertilizer program established. The trees recovered nicely and have continued to do well in those locations. Signifi- cantly, although considerable effort has gone into correcting the problem, it was never necessary to spray the trees. This example illustrates our commitment to minimum non - target impact of weed & pest control and the flexible, situation - specific approach that enables us to acheive it. Total chemical use in our holistic grounds maintenance program has steadily decreased and currently amounts to a small fraction of what is considered "normal" in the landscape maintenance industry. National publica- tions and environmental organizations refer others to Eugene as an example that it can be done. r Unlike many well- intentioned, but poorly thought out, programs to limit chemi- cal use; ours is working and accomplishing the goals of public safety, envi- ronmental responsibility, acceptable aesthetic standards and cost - effective operations concurently. Our agency and our community are justifiably proud of of this accomplishment. We encourage and welcome the adoption of similar methods by state resource management agencies.