The City’s contractor, who is licensed by the Maryland Department of Agriculture, will be spraying herbicides in the stream work area as part of our invasive plant species control.  This work will take several days to complete and will start around Monday, May 12, 2008.  Signs will be posted at entrances to the work area during the spraying.

Spot spraying will be done by hand and will target only the invasive plants.  The herbicides will be dry within a maximum of two hours.  Once dry, the herbicides are not easily transferred to humans or pets.  No spraying will occur during high wind periods.  All herbicides being used are registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use near streams and will be applied by a licensed contractor.  The contractor will mostly spray Rode; however, Prosecutor, Garlon 4, and Arsenal also will be used.  Material Safety Data Sheets will be available on site during spraying.  This is the fifth of approximately eight spraying applications over a two-year period that began in May 2007.

This invasive removal is an integral part of the stream restoration process and is a requirement of the Forest Conservation Plan.  The removal of the invasive plants will help ensure the long-term health of the existing and new vegetation.  A healthy forested buffer containing native plants protects the stream and provides habitat.

If you have any questions, please contact John Scabis, City of Rockville Public Works Engineer at 240-314-8514 or via e-mail at jscabis@rockvillemd.gov