Oakland's Annual Weed Spraying on Street Medians Under Way

If you've seen city crews spraying the street medians on 51st Street and other major streets in Oakland lately, it's likely the annual weed-control application of the herbicide Monsanto Ranger Pro.

The city sprays medians twice a year, once in the spring with Ranger Pro to kill weeds that have already started to germinate and once in the fall with Surflan to stop weeds before they germinate, said Jim Ryugo, an Oakland Parks and Recreation manager who oversees the weed-spraying program.

He said the spraying on 51st Street is only on the street median, the strip of ground in the middle of the street, not on the "greenbelt" apron that runs between the sidewalk and yards on the sides of the street.

The schedule for spraying varies depending on the weather, with the city posting signs on medians that are about to be sprayed, he said. Rockridge area residents wanting to know about spraying schedules can also contact the parks supervisor for North Oakland, Herman Miller, at hmiller@oaklandnet.com, he said.

Ryugo said he's received complaints from some residents objecting to Ranger Pro, which has the same active ingredient as Roundup, and the use of a product by corporate giant Monsanto, which produces genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.

"I've received a number of calls about safety," he said. "I know it's a critical issue for residents. I understand that."

But, he said, the city has used it for many years because it is relatively safe and because the city hasn't identified an equally effective herbicide. The cash-strapped city lacks the funds and personnel to get rid of weeds by hand or machine, he said.

"It's relatively safe for employees, and it's a very cost-effective way to take care of weeds," he said. He added that much of our food supply depends on use of the same herbicide.

"We've tried organic herbicides, and I'm sorry they didn't work as well," he said. "We have to come back and reapply."

If residents in a certain area are willing to take responsibility for controlling the median weeds and not have the city spray herbicide, they can assume the median maintenance through the city's "Adopt a Spot" program, Ryugo said.

The Business Improvement District on Broadway, for example, has joined the program and now takes care of the Broadway median around 27th Street, he said.

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