Orange County public works personnel are set to initiate a new pilot program next week, focusing on clearing vegetation from two channels in San Juan Capistrano without the use of herbicides or pesticides.
Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Katrina Foley commended the project, describing it as a collaborative effort involving both public and private interests. Foley stated in an interview, “I think we did a good job collaborating with all of the stakeholders.” She further indicated that organizations such as Surfrider and Coastkeeper provided input on the plan to forgo chemical use in the channels.
Foley emphasized the county’s need to prepare for El Niño while simultaneously avoiding pesticides and herbicides. She described it as a priority to avoid using these chemicals wherever possible, advocating for an end to routine spraying in favor of more targeted applications. Foley noted that this approach is “better for our health and the habitat and keeps our waterways clean.”
Orange County engineer Edward Frondoso explained that public works staffers will manually clear thicker vegetation from the San Juan and Trabuco Creek channels. This project received approval from the Board of Supervisors on June 9. Frondoso stated the program’s goal is to determine if the channels can be effectively managed without chemicals. The public works department plans to track how invasive species regrow after the manual removal.
The initiative will measure the effectiveness of manual vegetation removal and assess the associated costs for labor and materials, according to Frondoso. He noted that these findings will help advise whether this method can be sustained and potentially expanded to other channels in the future.
Hugo Pineda, deputy director of operations and maintenance for the county’s public works department, clarified that the work will specifically focus on the removal of woody vegetation. Pineda added that some electric and power tools will be utilized to remove the brush, while low-lying grass will remain untouched. He confirmed that all efforts are being undertaken in preparation for the upcoming winter storm season, with work expected to continue for a couple of months.
It remains uncertain whether the county will need to engage outside contractors to assist with the work. The county is also exploring a capital improvement project that would consider widening channels. Frondoso acknowledged that other jurisdictions have attempted similar programs and concluded they were not practical. However, he remarked, “But we’ll only find out by doing it ourselves.”
