Wonderful editorial clearly explaining the long, sad saga of Caltrans' roadside spraying of toxic chemicals in San Mateo county's wildlife and watershed corridors, along highways 84, 35 and 1 . Thank you so much to this paper for putting the spotlight on this important public health issue -- specially at this time, when mounting public exposure and continued local pressure may persuade CT to finally make an honest and serious good-faith effort to change their practices.
This public agency has for years ignored local residents' requests for alternative non-poisonous methods; ignored offers to involve the local community in the effort to control invasive vegetation; lied about their spraying operations: for example, denying they sprayed along coastal highway 1, then being caught in the act; often failed to post signs or alert local residents and motorists when spraying would occur, as along highways 35 and 1; and giving contradictory information about their practices: for example, while on the one hand some CT officials assure local residents and farmers that "No Spray" signs will be respected by spray trucks, other CT officials renege on that assurance and proclaim the signs mean nothing.... This is a public agency paid for with public taxes and, as such, should not arrogantly turn a deaf ear and employ all manner of delay and confusion tactics to avoid its responsibility to honor the legitimate concerns of the tax payers who fund it and the citizens it purportedly serves.
Thank you again, The Almanac!

Isn't it sad, that in 2016 we are still dealing with issues like this. Especially to an area, so lovely with such eco-diversity, as San Mateo County. I was a resident for 11 years and still miss it. This does bring up the question of "how does my current community deal w/ this issue"? I will pay more attention to this and hope for the best in both. Many thanks to Patty Mayall and Protect Our Watershed for all the work on documentation and education that has gone on for years. Bravo Almanac (!) for addressing this issue!

I salute Patty Mayall and her dedicated friends for continuing to bring this sensitive environmental issue to our attention. We need to protect our precious wildlife and biodiversity. We can find a solution to land management that doesn't involve broadcast, herbicide spraying. Mowing and cutting for weed abatement is a very sound approach even though it will take more effort. It is worth the price to preserve safely our precious resources human, plant and animal.