SJWC Sprays Dangerous Herbicide on Watershed Land
September 5,
2006
Herbicides In The Los Gatos Creek
Watershed
The San Jose Water Company has admitted to their
application of the herbicide "Roundup Pro" in a 2% solution along its private
roadsides, above-ground pipelines, earth embankment dams and other structures
within the Los Gatos Creek watershed. According to an environmental scientist
for a state agency who participated in the Pre-Harvest Inspection of the
watershed, the herbicide application was over water running in the inside ditch
of the road. This is very troubling. Residents should know Roundup Pro is not
approved for use in or near water according to, among others, the Santa Clara
Valley Water District, the
The US Department of Agriculture had this to say about
Roundup Pro "Consequently, it is reasonable to assume that the surfactant in
Roundup Pro will enhance the toxicity of glyphosate to aquatic species." The
Santa Clara Valley Water District's Environmental Impact Report on herbicide
usage states that "In extensive aquatic testing, the surfactant in Roundup is
found to have greater toxicity than the active ingredient (Glyphosate)." Even
Monsanto, the manufacturer of Roundup states that "This is why the formulation
was not registered for aquatic uses; nor are glyphosate-containing products with
POEA now registered for aquatic use."
Also troubling is the fact that San Jose Water Company
uses Roundup Pro in nearly twice the recommended concentration. They use a 2%
solution of Roundup, while the Santa Clara Valley Water District states that
professional users of Roundup Pro typically use 'about 1%'.
The Los Gatos Creek watershed is a known habitat for the California Red-Legged Frog. This is the frog made famous in Mark Twain's short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog Of Calaveras County". The frog is listed as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act and its existence in the watershed is known to the SJWC.