The City of Walnut Creek has established an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) policy, which covers City-owned and managed facilities. 

What is IPM?

Integrated pest management (IPM) is an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties. Pesticides are used only after monitoring indicates they are needed according to the established guidelines, and treatment are made with the goal of removing only the target organisms. Pest control materials are selected and applied by trained staff in a manner that minimizes risk to beneficial, non-target organisms, and the environment. 

Click here to view the City's IPM policy.

Resources

Click fact sheet for more information on how you can reduce pesticide use at your home and garden.

The City's Clean Water Permit

To prevent the impairment of local creeks by pesticide-related toxicity, the City is implementing this IPM policy and program to address municipal use of pesticides that pose a threat to water quality and that have the potential to enter the City's storm drainage system. Additionally, City maintenance staff who applies or uses pesticides within their scope of duties are annually trained in IPM practices, the City's policiy and standard operating procedures. All contractors that the City of Walnut Creek hire must be IPM-certified and practice best management practices on City-owned facilities, parks and median landscape areas. Prior to application, contractors must obtain approval from the City's IPM Coordinator on the products and methods to use. On a regional level, the City participates in a joint outreach programs to encourage our residents to reduce their reliance on pesticides that threaten water quality and promote appropriate disposal of unused pesticides.

Each year, we report the City's implementation efforts to the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board as part of the City's Stormwater Annual Report. Click here to review the Pesticide Toxicity Control section (Provision C.9) of the FY 2017-18 Stormwater Annual Report.

The 2015 audit performed by Water Board staff of 76 municipalities within the San Francisco Bay area for compliance with the Provision C.9 of the permit has found that the City of Walnut Creek was in compliance with the following sections: 

• Provision C.9.a requires permittees to report on the quantities of pesticide active ingredients used in their municipal operations.
• Provision C.9.c requires permittees to state how they verify compliance with their IPM policies and actions taken to correct contractor performance.
• Provision C.9.e requires permittees to conduct outreach to consumers of pesticides at the point of purchase, outreach to residents who contract with professionals for pest control (both structural and landscape) and outreach to pest control professionals (POCs) themselves.

Product - Approved Use List

The IPM Coordinator shall maintain a list of all pesticides that have been approved for use. This list applies to Staff and Outside Contractors.

Click on the Product Name for Label Information or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) link for additional product information.

Material	SDS	Active Ingredient	Signal Word	Use	Registration#	Notes
Acelepryn G		Chlorantraniliprole	No Signal Word	Insecticide	352-772	Alternative to imidacloprid (Merit)
Arena .25G		Clothianidin	Caution	Insecticide	59639-157
Azaguard		Azadirachtin	Caution	Insecticide	70299-17	Alternative to imidacloprid (Merit)
Cheetah Pro		Glufosinate Ammonium	Caution	Herbicide	228-743	Alternative to glyphosate
Civitas		Mineral Oil	Caution	Plant Protectant	69526-17	OMRI certified
Clearcast		Ammonium Salt of imazamox	Caution	Herbicide	241-437-67690
Crosshair		modified vegetable oil, organic acid	Caution	Adjuvant	2935-11001
Deerscram		dried blood, garlic, cloves	Caution	Repellant	NA
Dimension 2 EW		Dithiopyr	Warning	Herbicide	62719-542
Dimension 270G		Dithiopyr	Caution	Herbicide	7001-375
Drione		Pyrethrins, Piperonyl Butoxide, Amorphous Silica Gel	Caution	Insecticide	432.992	For in-ground wasp nests
Drive XLR8		Dimethylamine salt of quinclorac	Caution	Herbicide	7969-272
Essentria IC3		Rosemary oil,geraniol, peppermint oil	Caution	Insecticide	EPA Exempt	Approved for indoor and outdoor use
Fiesta		Iron HEDTA	Caution	Herbicide	67702-26-87865	Alternative to 2-4D based selective herbicides
Flumiguard		Flumioxin	Caution	Herbicide	81927-68
Fusillade II		Fluazifop-P-butyl	Caution	Herbicide	100-1084
Garlon 4 Ultra		Triclopyr	Caution	Herbicide	62719-527	Cut stump treatment. Same A.I. as Turflon, safer for aquatic environments, used to reduce glyphosate use
Liquid Fence Goose Repellant		Methyl Anthranilate	Caution	Repellant	72041-2
Magnify		Alkyl polyglycoside, Ammonium sulfate, Ammonium nitrate	Caution	Warning	NA
Nu Film P		Pinene Polymers, a-Omega-hydroxypoly	Caution	Adjuvant	NA
Nuvan Prostrips		Dichlorvos	Warning	Insecticide	5481-553	Used in silo trash cans to prevent bug infestations
Penta-Bark		Alkylphenol ethoxylate	Caution	Adjuvant	NA
Primo Maxx		Trinexapac-ethyl	Caution	Growth Regulator	100-937
PureSpray Green		Mineral oil	Caution	Plant Protectant	69523-9	OMRI certified
Revolver		Formasulfuron	Caution	Herbicide	432-1266	Alternative to glyphosate
Sedgehammer		Halosulfuron-methyl	Caution	Herbicide	81880-1-10163	Used to reduce glyphosate use
Sluggo		Iron Phosphate	Caution	Molluscicide	67702-3-11656
Specticle Flo		Indaziflam	None	Herbicide	432-1518	Used for fire abatement and to reduce glyphosate use
Specticle G		Indaziflam	None	Herbicide	432-1523	Used for fire abatement and to reduce glyphosate use
Suppress		Caprylic Acid, Capric Acid	Warning	Herbicide	51517-9	Alternative to glyphosate. Ocular hazard to applicator. Added to reduce glyphosate use
Sureguard SC		Flumioxazin	None	Herbicide	71368-114	Used for fire abatement and to reduce glyphosate use
Turflon Ester Ultra		Triclopyr	Caution	Herbicide	62719-566
Wasp Freeze II		Prallathren	Caution	Insecticide	499-550	Posting requirement does not apply

 

Product - Limited Use List

Use of a product on the Limited Use Products List requires written approval from the IPM Coordinator and Public Works Manager. A 6-week window of use for the Limited Use product will be allowed pending approval. This list applies to Staff and Outside Contractors.

Click on the Product Name for Label Information or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) link for additional product information.

Material	SDS	Active Ingredient	Signal Word	Use	Registration#	Notes
Kaput - D		Diphacinone	Caution	Rodenticide	72500-9	Contractor use only Used for gopher control when mechanical methods do not suffice and a safety concern is present
Pak 27		Sodium Carbonate Peroxyhdrate	Danger	Aquatic Herbicide	686680-9-67690	Contractor use only Ocular hazard to applicator Aquatic herbicide used for filamentous algae control.  Substitute for Copper sulfate
Reward		Diquat dibromide	Caution	Herbicide	100-1091	Contractor use only Aquatic herbicide used for irrigation reservoir only for algae and duckweed control
Rodeo		Glyphosate	Caution	Herbicide	62719-324	Permitted for use on greenways and medians as primary means of weed control. Available as an alternative in Parks if 'Approved' pesticides do not provide adequate or timely control.
Sonar Genesis		Fluridone	Danger	Herbicide	67690-54	Contractor use only Ocular hazard to applicator Aquatic herbicide to control duck weed and filamentous algae
Talpirid		Bromethalin	Caution	Rodenticide	12455-101	Used for mole control when mechanical methods do not suffice and a safety concern is present
Tristar 8.5SL		Acetamiprid	Caution	Insecticide	8033-106-1001	Alternative to imidacloprid (Merit)
Wilco Zinc Ag Bait		Zinc Phosphide	Caution	Rodenticide	36029-17	Contractor use only For control of ground squirrels when trapping and habitat modification are not feasible and a safety concern is present

 

Emergency Exemption Process

In the event that the protection of public health requires the use of a pesticide not on the Approved or Limited Use lists above, the IPM coordinator will make a recommendation to the IPM committee to allow staff or an outside contractor to use an unlisted product.  The exceptions shall be granted on a per-case basis and shall apply to a specific pest problem for a limited time. 

Emergency Exemptions must demonstrate the following:

1. Compelling need to use the product.
2. Good faith effort to find alternatives to proposed pesticide.
3. Effective, economic alternatives to the particular pesticide do not exist for the particular use.
4. Reasonable plan for investigating alternatives to the pesticide in question during the exemption request.

For more information about the City's IPM efforts, please call 925-943-5854 to speak with the IPM Coordinator.