2010 Annual Report

Project offers advice on mitigating pesticides in runoff

UC IPM Green Bulletin is giving professional landscape and structural pesticide applicators research-based, practical methods to reduce pesticide runoff in urban environments.

The first five issues of the newsletter featured university-tested information that can be applied to reduce runoff or its effects, such as new pesticide application techniques for use on hard surfaces and use of impervious surfaces to filter water. UC experts contribute the articles for each issue.

Green Bulletin is one part of a larger project aimed at creating educational materials and using them to show residents and professionals how to keep pesticides out of California waterways. Other products being developed by UC IPM include online training modules, Quick Tip-style cards, and a pesticide impacts database. Videos and additional training modules and cards will be published before the project, funded by the Department of Pesticide Regulation, ends in March.

“We’re pleased to continue working with the University of California to raise awareness about the effects of pesticides on water quality in urban areas,” said DPR Director Mary-Ann Warmerdam. “Educating landscapers, pest control professionals, retail garden store staff, and the public about integrated pest management and the proper application of pesticides is crucial to reducing contaminated runoff—that could be toxic to some small aquatic organisms—from entering urban waterways.”

UC IPM recently published four online training modules. These form a course for professionals, and topics cover IPM, pesticide properties, pesticide impacts on water quality, and best practices to mitigate pesticide runoff. Additional modules will present the appropriate use of bifenthrin and fipronil, herbicides, and spray calibration techniques. 

The Quick Tip-style pesticide cards describe safety issues of several active ingredients or present topics related to safe pesticide use. Cards will be posted online but also printed for pest control companies to distribute to building residents.

The new pesticide database gives information about the impacts of specific active ingredients on water quality, natural enemies, honey bees, and people. A table presents the impacts for each pesticide suggested in a UC IPM Pest Note.

CDPR contracted with UC IPM to carry out the project. UC IPM Advisor Cheryl Wilen, Advisor Darren Haver, and UC Cooperative Extension specialists Jay Gan and Mary Louise Flint form the technical team. UC IPM staff Cheryl Reynolds, Scott Parker, and Tunyalee Martin prepare the products, while Joyce Strand manages the project.

Next article >> UC IPM produces products for Spanish readers