Public Works

 

City of Santa Fe IPM Program

What is IPM?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a decision-making process for managing pests that uses monitoring to determine pest injury levels and primarily uses cultural, mechanical, physical, and biological tools to minimize health, environmental, and financial risks. The method uses extensive knowledge about pests, such as infestation thresholds, life histories, environmental requirements, and natural enemies, to complement and facilitate biological and other natural control of pests. The method uses the least toxic synthetic pesticides only as a last resort to manage pests.

The Goal of IPM

The goal of IPM is not to eradicate pests but to eliminate pest problems by strengthening and stabilizing the landscape so that conditions are more favorable for plants than for pests.  By using scouting and monitoring practices for pests  (insects, other arthropods, weeds, pathogens, or vertebrates), actions to suppress population levels can be made in a timely manner using a combination of the most environmentally friendly and cost-effective tactics available.

Foamstream® Weed Machine 

The Foamstream® Weed Machine combines air, heated water, and a biodegradable concentrate of plant-based oils and sugars to create a coating of foam to cover weeds and kill them. A metal lance distributes a foam coating allowing heat between 194 and 203 degrees Fahrenheit to kill unwanted vegetation by retaining the heat over them for a few seconds. Because the foam ingredients are 100% herbicide free, it is safe for use near animals and pollinators. It can also be used in close proximity to established plants and trees because the heat doesn’t penetrate far enough below the surface to affect their roots while also eliminating weeds competing with trees for nutrients, water, and light. 

This weed mitigation tool can be used in many of Santa Fe's outdoor spaces where weeds can proliferate, including ball field fence lines and infield surfaces, hardscapes, decorative gravel, decomposed granite beds, dog parks, golf course bunkers, and traffic medians. The new tool was unveiled in May 2023, and the Parks Division will monitor and collect data on the machine's effectiveness over the upcoming weed season. 

    

Testing the Foamstream®: during application (left) vs. several days after application (right)

 

Click here to read the notice of pest control management action.

 

Application Date SF City Dept. Product Name Active Ingredients EPA Registration # Address of Pesticide Use Justification for Use Explanation of Efforts to Find Alternatives Strategy to Prevent Future Exemptions  End Date of Allowed Pesticide Use Hazard Tier Limitation SFE Comments
11/01/24 Parks and Open Spaces EZ-JECT: Copperhead Herbicide Shells Imazapyr, as trunk injection 83220-2 1142 Siler Road, Building C Siberian Elm is an invasive species with a long history of difficult to control growth habits. The individuals being treated have grown into large epicormic masses that are not possible to remove with mechanical means. For future safety and maintenance issues they will be treated. Efforts have been take to remove small individuals by hand and with a weed wrench, which works well, but is labor and financially intensive. Mechanical weeding removes upper foliage, but does not cause mortality on larger individuals, and creates uncontrolled epicormic growth. This species may never be controlled effectively with non-chemical means, though targeting small individuals early on may reduce the massive stumps with epicormic growth. Tuesday, December 31, 2024 Caution Usage is limited to a trial basis on select city properties with applications involving invasive species or trees damaging infrastructure.

This product explores the efficacy of application method as a means to limit exposure and reduce environmental and personnel risks.
11/15/24 Parks and Open Spaces EZ-JECT: Copperhead Herbicide Shells Imazapyr, as trunk injection 83220-2 205 Caja Del Rio Rd The cotton wood trees near the MRC effluent pond pump house have been removed previously due to damaging the foundation. The adventitious and epicormic growth continues to be a problem. Chemical control will be used to reduce further financial and infrastructure damage.

These trees have previously been mechanically managed and many are too large and too close of proximity to the building to be removed with heavy equipment. Much of the growth is adventitious and is unable to be pulled out. Cottonwoods often sprout back from very small pieces left in the soil.

In the Future, it will be attempted to solarize or stumpgrind trees that are removed. Ideally trees will be removed as small specimens when it is financially viable to control mechanically.

 Tuesday, December 31, 2024 Caution Usage is limited to a trial bases on select city properties with applications involving invasive species or trees damaging infrastructure. This product explores the efficacy of application method as a means to limit exposure and reduce environmental and personnel risks.