Last month, Boulder County Commissioners approved a weed management plan after much dissent from the public on pesticide use and aerial spraying. Commissioners Claire Levy and Marta Loachamin voted to continue using pesticides countywide.
This vote contrasts with the county’s own survey of the public, who clearly stated (81%) they did not want pesticides used — especially with aerial application.
Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann, a chemical engineer, spoke of the dangers of this experimental Bayer/Monsanto product being aerial sprayed. Stolzmann alone stood with the public on ending pesticide use, but was outvoted by the other two commissioners.
Lyons Climate Action Coalition presented on Jan. 23, 2023 to Commissioner Levy with two professors of regenerative agriculture — Michael Kotutwa Johnson, Arizona State University; and Hunter Lovins, a professor of sustainability at Bard University — 50+ year chemist Peter Cowdery; and Goat Green, a goat-for-hire natural grazing operation.
Together, this group gave research on the public health effects of pesticides as well as soil and climate. Additionally, CU Boulder professor emeritus Timothy Seastedt, ecology and evolutionary biology, sat on a panel of experts for Boulder County Parks and Open Space’s advisory committee to discuss alternative means of weed management and gave them dozens of studies regarding the success of these methods.
Seastedt insisted Parks and Open Space should be focusing on List A and B weeds, species that the county or state requires for removal. Cheatgrass, also known as downy brome, which is the target of aerial spraying, does not appear on List A or B.
It is List C. These are plants where removal is not mandatory but recommended.
The county commissioners held a hearing on May 23, 2024. Members of the public attended and spoke against the use of pesticides, including many professionals in the field of sustainability, ecology, environmental engineers, chemistry and climate.
The county’s plan has the word “integrated” in its name, but there are very few alternatives to pesticides used for weed management included. In public hearings, Parks & Open Space Weed Manager Joe Swanson and Director of Parks and Open Space Therese Glowacki have stated it is not feasible to use any other methods, including controlled burns, goats (which Longmont and other cities use) and hand pulling.
Two of the three county commissioners are acting against the will of the people to aerial spray a dangerous pesticide that chemists — and its own label — say is dangerous to humans, animals and ecology.
Much of the public didn’t know about the November vote, and we believe they should be informed. People need to take precaution and hopefully let their commissioners know how they feel about this decision — again.
If people are concerned, they could get on the Colorado Department of Agriculture pesticide sensitivity list to be informed of spray events and to get on a county notification list so they can leave their home when it happens.
Kathleen Sands is an organizer with the Lyons Climate Action Group.
These opinions do not necessarily represent the views of Boulder Weekly