SFPUC 2001 Alameda Watershed Management Plan

XII. SUMMARY OF COMMMENTS AND RESPONSESB. SUMMARY OF COMMENTS AND RESPONSESPlan (which has been accepted by the Department of the Environment), conducting posting andnoticing for pesticide use, establishing a IPM hotline, establishing a monitoring program, andestablishing demonstration plots. The SFPUC has received exemptions for specific pesticide use,when necessary. The SFPUC has also participated on the technical advisory group to establishthe Department of the Environment’s IPM Program list 2000.Each operating division of the SFPUC has implemented the SFPUC’s IPM. The on-site IPMcoordinators monitor the use of pesticides and report use as structural (for facilities, buildings,offices, plants, etc.) and other operations (for exotic or invasive species, etc.). Where possible,alternative methods of pest management are employed, such as mechanical, physical, biological,or cultural. The SFPUC documents the results of each control method employed. In addition, theSFPUC works cooperatively with private companies to reduce the use of pesticides on adjacentproperties. SFPUC personnel did not use pesticides within the Alameda Watershed hydrologicboundary in 1998. According to the 1999 Annual Pesticide Use Report, 36 applications tookplace, totaling 13.78 pounds and 13.94 gallons of chemicals. Most of the applications took placein the Sunol yard and turf area and were for weed control (Roundup Pro Herbicide) and gophercontrol (Wilco ‘Gopher Getter’ TY).The SFPUC Bureau of Commercial Land has included IPM ordinance language into new orrenewed leases. The bureau sent letters to all lessees/permittees in Fall 1999 requesting a list ofpesticides used on SFPUC properties. The bureau sent follow-up letters in Spring 2000informing all lessees/permittees of the Department of the Environment IPM Program List 2000.Specifically, the nurseries and Sunol Golf Course report pesticide use to the Alameda CountyAgriculture Office and the SFPUC on a monthly basis. The nurseries and golf course areincluded as part of the annual report of SFPUC pesticide use, submitted to the Department of theEnvironment. The chemical application management program for leased lands includes annualinspections, review of application methods, chemicals used and changes to existing programs.Under Action sun16, the feasibility of developing a working farm, a vineyard, nurseries, row crops,aquaculture, and/or wetlands would be explored. These uses would be considered in conjunctionwith restoration and reclamation of mining permit areas. The feasibility of agricultural or wetlanduses would consider pesticide use and the potential for water quality impacts. If agricultural orwetland uses are considered feasible, a specific project may be proposed. The project-level impactsassociated with agricultural or wetland use, and mitigation recommendations, would be evaluated atthe time a specific project is proposed for implementation.The DEIR evaluates the program-level impacts associated with golf course expansion. At aprogram-level, the DEIR recognizes that golf course expansion could be associated with waterquality and hazardous materials impacts, but that the area of expansion could be located such thatimpacts could be minimized (DEIR page III.D-32). In addition, hazardous materials managementprocedures included in the Management Plan would reduce potential impacts (DEIRSection III.M). A golf course expansion project has not been proposed at this time. The projectlevelimpacts associated with golf course expansion, and mitigation recommendations, would beevaluated at the time a specific project is proposed for implementation.NOP 96.223E: Alameda Watershed Management Plan C&R.112 ESA / 930385