Washoe County’s Community Services Department is preparing to launch its annual weed abatement program. The County’s Community Services Department (CSD) has one certified herbicide applicator who will begin working in Washoe Valley Wednesday, March 5, then move to the North Valleys.
Both areas are priorities based on weed growth and the weed abatement spraying will be based upon weather and wind conditions. The current workplan is to proceed from Washoe Valley to Pleasant Valley, then north to Cold Springs and Sun Valley; spending approximately one month in each area. However, the single crew operation may alter their schedule due to localized wind conditions, often opting to apply the pre/post emergent herbicide in one location during the morning and another location during the afternoon as windspeeds change.
“We want all residents to know that when the weather permits, we will be spraying to achieve bare ground vegetation control in our roadside ditches,” said Washoe County’s CSD road operations superintendent Adam Searcy. “The bare ground ensures water flows more freely during storms, improves the aesthetics of the neighborhood and helps prevent fires as well.”
Searcy also said the products used by the County are safe to apply and areas that have been sprayed can be accessed within approximately 24 hours. Residents are requested to stay inside and keep pets indoors as well when spraying of roadside ditches near their homes takes place. Property owners with wells near ditches should also clear any brush obscuring the well so it is visible from the street and the area will not be sprayed to avoid the possibility of chemical contact with well water.
For more information, call the Washoe County Roads Operation at (775) 328-2180.
