YOUR WATER?
what’s in
California Del ® ta vegetation control review
By Mike Gorman
Summer 2019
M
uch attention has been focused on aquatic
vegetation control and the effects thereof on
the California Delta and other State waters in recent years. This is the first segment of a multi-part series
looking at the herbicides being used in the chemical control
of various types of aquatic vegetation throughout the Delta.
I conducted a general review of data published and
distributed by the California State Parks Aquatic Invasive
Plant Control Program (AIPCP). I looked back at 2016 and
2017 published information (2018 not published yet) to
identify the herbicides used, frequencies of application,
quantities applied, locations, etc.
Subsequent articles will look further into the chemical and biological-monitoring results, measured affects to fisheries, and potential affects to water quality and Delta health and ecology.
This first article in the series will look at the herbicides being used and their potential risks to water quality, fishery and human health.
HERBICIDES
Let’s begin with the herbicides. The surface or floating program (FAV) used glyphosate (Round-up), 2,4-D,
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