The City’s contractor, who is licensed by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), will be spraying herbicides in the park as part of our invasive plant species control. This work will take one to two days to complete and will start around Monday, October 6, 2008. Signs will be posted at entrances to Rockcrest Park during the spraying. The spraying will occur throughout Rockcrest Park from Broadwood Drive to the City limits, below Atlantic Avenue. The majority of the spraying is not within the highly traveled areas.
Following integrated pest management (IPM) protocols, 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 an MDA licensed contractor. The contractor will mostly spray Rodeo and Roundup; however, Garlon 4 will be used depending on the targeted invasive species. Material Safety Data Sheets will be available on site during spraying. This is the last of eight spraying applications over a two-year period that began in May 2007. This invasive species removal is an integral part of the stream restoration process and is a requirement of the City's Forest and Tree Preservation Ordinance. The removal of the invasive plants will help ensure the long-term health of the existing and new native 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 email at jscabis@rockvillemd.gov.
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