Caltrans again delays, but won't stop, spraying

Well, these are the same folks who did such a wonderful job replacing the eastern half of the Bay Bridge. They've spent millions protecting the wildlife on and around the bridge, but that doesn't apply to humans.

Well, my last post is not here so I am not sure what happened to that. In Humboldt County, Mendocino County and most of Trinity and DelNorte Counties, there is no roadside spraying allowed. Caltrans must stop this terrible practice everywhere. Don't give up. Thanks to Patty Clary, executive director of Californians for Alternatives to Toxics, spraying was stopped up here years ago. Let's see if this comment is posted.

There are plenty of places to load and unload equipment along 84 and 35, that is not a valid excuse. Leaving dead vegetation does not provide defensible area for fires (notice how the CDF does not spray?). Maybe it is cheaper to apply toxic chemicals, but it is NOT cheaper for those people who get cancer and other health issues. Maybe someone is just getting kick backs from the herbicide companies. I find it impossible to believe that our area is unsuitable for mowing but so many other counties are. What will it take for Caltrans to listen to us? Our Board of Supervisors did after hearing expert testimony.

This is the first time I've heard about the chemicals they are planning to spray. I thought Glyphosate was bad, these sound unbelievably bad. Twelve hours before it is safe to enter? Is Caltrans going to put up signage to prevent hikers and residents from crossing into these toxic areas? Unbelievable.

Thank you to Patty Clary of Californians for Alternatives to Toxics.

Why has Roundup been used on the vegetation between Woodland Avenue and the San Francisquito Creek in the City of East Palo Alto during the critical Steelhead migration period? Is the error of CalTrans or the City of East Palo Alto?

Thank you to Barbara Wood and The Almanac for covering this crucial issue to my community and beyond.
What needs to happen is for Caltrans (CT) to do AS THEY HAVE DONE in other CT districts : end broadcast, herbicide spraying of roadsides for vegetation management and follow the San Mateo Co. Board of Supervisors Resolution (March 2012) which ended this practice on county roads and parks.
It is disturbing to read CT responses claiming that they spray only once a year, when we have documented on Hwys. 35 & 84, roadside spraying being done in January, last year in June, and other years in November also. Now it's being done in March. We simply never KNOW when, where and what they are spraying from year to year, as it varies, and there is no on-road notifications posted to warn us. As we have experienced, no notifications at all (as this January on Hwy.35) or emails to some residents.
They claim that mowing cannot be done, first they said because of costs, yet they are refusing to show the numbers comparing the costs of spraying and mowing, and what their budget IS for vegetation management.
They HAVE done mowing and cutting of Hwy. 84 just a few years ago when a Bicycle group requested clearing for an event ! On a section of 84, CT managed to mow the Scotch Broom and roadsides in a day or two. Yet, they ignore YEARS of constant requests from residents for !
It would benefit all concerned if CT would work WITH our community and not against us. Quit delaying and END this unnecessary risk to public health, our water sources, and the environment NOW.

I'm very much opposed to the spraying.

[Post removed. This doesn't seem to have anything to do with the local spraying issue. Also, don't post copyrighted material in Town Square. You can link to a blog if it is relevant to the topic.]

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