We saw this sign posted on Mt Davidson this week:

Pesticide Application Notice – Mt Davidson (Nov 14 and 15th, 2013)

It is too wet to apply these herbicides now and these two herbicides are very dangerous, one is banned in Europe and the other in New York:

• Polaris (Imazapyr). This Tier II herbicide is a problem because it spreads (it doesn’t stay where it’s applied) and it persists (it doesn’t break down easily). It’s a relatively new herbicide, and we don’t know quite what it does – though its breakdown product  is neuro-toxic. It’s banned in Europe, and neighbors are fighting against its use in privately owned forests in Northern California.
• Milestone (Amino-pyralid). This Tier I toxic chemical sticks around even more persistently than imazapyr. It was banned for a time in the UK because if animals eat and excrete it, the excreta are still poisonous – as is the manure made from it. It’s banned in New York state because they aren’t sure it won’t poison the water. NAP’s used it in Lake Merced, Pine Lake, Glen Canyon, and Mount Davidson, all of which are areas where water contamination is possible.

In our January, 2013 post  (http://sfforest.net/2013/01/17/sfs-natural-areas-program-uses-even-more-pesticides/) we noted that the Natural Areas Program (NAP) used more pesticides than in 2012 than any year beginning in 2008, which was the first year for which we have data provided by the City.

An escalating use of herbicides is bad for the environment and the people, pets and wildlife using these parks. It sends a damaging message about priorities and indicates a lack of success with the NAP program.

In August, 2013, we issued (http://sfforest.net/category/applies-pesticides/) a Rec and Park Dept Pesticides Report for the first half of 2013;  we noted then that Rec and Park uses more herbicides in the natural areas than in the rest of the Parks together. Also, NAP is the main user by far of the most toxic Tier I pesticide:  Garlon.