Weed and Pest Management

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Overview
The Town is responsible for maintaining nearly 600 acres of parks and open space property, with approximately 170 acres of that total comprised of turf grass. The Town follows a comprehensive maintenance plan for all Town property, and this includes implementing Mosquito Control and a Weed and Pest Management Program based on carefully controlled and monitored best practices. In conjunction with cultural, mechanical and biological controls, the Town uses chemical controls when necessary. This program calls for posting notice of applications at least a day prior, and the information is also placed in the schedule link above. The Town monitors the best practices throughout the region for weed and pest management and reviews this program annually.

If you or your group are interested in volunteering to pull weeds, please email us at volunteerops@superiorcolorado.gov.

Weed and Pest Management Program

The Town uses an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach based on best practices to control weeds and pests on all parks and open space areas. This approach is well-researched and established as an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to weed and pest management based on a foundation of several broad elements. Prominent IPM program components include applying common-sense practices; utilizing a combination of cultural, biological, and chemical measures that emphasize the least-toxic approach to controls; economic feasibility; and a strong emphasis on minimizing the use of chemical control measures.

Link to Weed and Pest Management Application Schedule

The four basic steps of the Town’s IPM program:

Set action thresholds. Before any control action, Town staff determines if the amount of weeds or pests present in an area requires a response.
Monitor and identify pests. Not all weeds or insects require immediate control actions.
Prevention. Measures include improving soil health by aeration and adding soil amendments, mulching trees, and aerating. Well-maintained facilities and healthy plant material are less susceptible to weeds and pests.
Control. Effective, less-risky methods are implemented first, such as mowing weeds before going to seed, releasing Canada thistle gall mites, or hand-pulling small areas. EPA-approved synthetic herbicides and pesticides are applied to targeted areas when determined to be necessary; and this is done at the lowest application rate possible by State-licensed and certified applicators.

When determined to be the most appropriate control measure as part of the Town’s overall IPM program, the Town will use chemical controls for broadleaf weeds in landscape turf, noxious weeds in open space areas, weeds on soft-surface trails; mosquitoes; algae and duckweed in ponds; and ash borers and IPS engraver bark beetles in spruce and pine trees.

Weed and pest control occurs in varying degrees, applying the measures according to the Town’s IPM approach. When chemical application is deemed necessary for weed control, a commercial product replacing RoundUp (per Town Board decision July 29, 2019) are Gallery SC, Dimension 2EW, and Surmise. These are used along with Momentum (Momentum MSDS), Triad (2,4-D), Trimec 992, Aquabac (Bti) and Aqualuer 20-20 (permethrin) for mosquito control. Sonar (fluridone) and Diquat are used for pond water quality. Permethrin is the tree pest control. MSDS sheets are linked to each of the different controls listed in this paragraph

Learn more about the Colorado Department of Agriculture Pesticide Sensitivity Registry, or access the application form.

For information regarding the Boulder County Weed Management Program, click HERE.

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Mosquito Control

Report mosquito habitats and increased activity: call the Mosquito Control Hotline at 303-273-2878 or (1-888-774-2161) or send an email to: Mosquito Control Specialist

The Town has contracted with Vector Disease Control International to provide the Town’s mosquito surveillance, monitoring and control activities this year. The firm identifies and monitors potential mosquito breeding sites. When sites with mosquito larvae are discovered, technicians apply controls as it is much more efficient and effective to reduce their population when the mosquitoes are in the stationary larval stage before they become airborne.

Vector Disease Control International provides as-needed adult mosquito spraying services for the Town. The scheduling of spraying is based on a combination of Public Health Department recommendations, citizen reports, adult mosquito population measurement and the season’s potential West Nile Virus activity. In advance of any spray applications, the Town will post notice and Vector will contact residents that have requested that they be notified. For more information or to be added to their call notification or no-spray list, visit their website .

Public education is important to help residents understand that individuals need to take precautions to minimize mosquito annoyance and the spread of West Nile Virus. Residents need to apply mosquito repellant each time they go outside and minimize standing water in their yards. Additional information about West Nile Virus and steps residents can take to protect themselves is available on the state health department's Fight the Bite Campaign. The Vector website has detailed information and an FAQ list.

Vector operates a Mosquito Control Hotline so residents can report potential mosquito habitats, adult mosquito activity, and request to be placed on no-spray or notification list. Please leave contact information on the Mosquito Control Hotline at 1-888-774-2161 or send an email to: Mosquito Control Specialist .

Suggestions to protect yourself include:

Limiting outdoor activities between dusk and dawn
Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants while outdoors
Using insect repellent that contains DEET
Draining standing water from around structures

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