County Halts Pesticide Applications

After sustained community concern and advocacy, Orange County Public Works has halted pesticide spraying in the creeks – for now. This announcement came from Supervisor Foley’s office on May 14th (see full press release here) and is proof that when the public puts pressure on decision-makers, meaningful change can happen.

Surfrider is cautiously optimistic, recognizing that this announcement came with the caveat that “if inspectors identify a facility in immediate need of vegetation management, OCPW may deploy crews to conduct maintenance, which may include the use of herbicide.” While this pause is an important step forward, there is still a long road ahead to ensure protections to water quality and public health.

Other Key Updates:

Accountability & Compliance

There are many layers of regulatory compliance at play here. Surfrider is tracking investigations currently being done by:

• California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which is looking into complaints of potential violations in the Fish and Game Code
• Orange County Agricultural Commissioner, which is looking into potential violations of California state pesticide law, and
• State Water Resources Control Board, which additionally confirmed deficient reporting and is awaiting a corrected version to verify complete and accurate reporting.
• California Coastal Commission is currently deferring to the State Water Board’s authority to enforce the permit activities within the coastal zone.

A letter penned by Assemblymember Dixon (CA-72) and co-signed by Assemblymember Sanchez (CA-71), Assemblymember Ta (CA-70), and Assemblymember Davies (CA-74) urges thorough investigations, as well as enhanced transparency and collaboration throughout this process.

Most regulatory compliance issues identified so far appear to be connected to applications conducted by third-party contractors. In response, the County is evaluating whether future vegetation management work should be brought in-house to improve oversight and accountability.

Long-Term Reduction of Herbicide Use

While OC Public Works stopped spraying countywide as of April 30, spraying was halted in the lower reaches of San Juan and Trabuco Creeks following the town hall on March 2. These sites are serving as a pilot project, allowing the county to evaluate manual and mechanical methods of vegetation removal.

Surfrider is additionally participating in an advisory committee created by Supervisor Foley at the request of the Creek Team to re-evaluate the County’s vegetation management practices. The committee includes county and city staff, tribal representatives, non-governmental organizations, and community members. The goal of the committee is to develop recommendations for vegetation management for the Board of Supervisors that prioritize safer, more sustainable practices while protecting habitat, water quality, and public health.

Take Action Against Herbicides

Community advocacy played a critical role in securing this temporary halt to spraying, and continued public engagement will be essential moving forward and securing permanent reductions of herbicide use in Orange County’s waterways.

On June 9, the County Board of Supervisors will be voting to develop a formal plan to phase out herbicide use within one year, develop a public notification requirement, and other actions aimed at protecting the health of our waterways. See the full list of recommended actions here.   

We need YOU to speak up in support of protecting Orange County's waterways:

• Submit a comment via email to comments@cob.oc.gov urging Supervisors to vote in support of Agenda Item S10A. Comments received before the start of the meeting will be provided to Board members for their consideration and will be included in the meeting’s administrative record.

• Attend the Board meeting and provide comment in person. The meeting begins at 9:30 AM. Complete a speaker request form for Agenda Item S10A when you arrive. 

By raising awareness and organizing together, our community can continue pushing for long-term solutions that protect our waterways, ecosystems, and public health. Stay tuned for additional updates and future opportunities to take action.