KINGSTON – The New York City Department of Environmental Protect
announced it will begin using a natural weed control for roadside maintenance
in the watershed. The move to an all-natural herbicide comes after a 2015
pilot test that examined the effectiveness of two natural products used
to control weed growth along roadway shoulders, in particular where guiderails
are located on the 99 miles of roads DEP owns along the perimeter of its
reservoirs and some watershed lands.
That test found that one of the natural herbicides eliminated 98 percent
of the weeds.
DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd said that last year, the agency promised
local residents they would suspend the use of synthetic herbicides for
roadside maintenance and examine natural and less toxic alternatives.
Those results were good with DEP now moving toward the use of one of those
natural alternatives where guiderails line city-owned roads in the watershed,
she said. “This outcome balances public safety, environmental stewardship,
water quality protection, and the concerns of our neighbors.”
From 2009 through 2014, the DEP had contracted with the state Department
of Transportation to apply a synthetic herbicide called glyphosate along
guiderails on city-owned roads, but suspended that in 2015 after residents
urged DEP to seek more natural alternatives.
Last summer, DEP conducted a pilot test for two natural herbicides called
Burnout II and Finale. Following testing, it was decided to use Finale
on a pilot basis in 2016.
