Glyphosate could be used in Ladysmith's watershed

Date:05-27-2009

TimberWest wants to use herbicide inside Ladysmith’s watershed.

The forestry company wants to spray glyphosate along logging roads in the Holland Lake watershed to help with brush control.

Town council requested a meeting with TimberWest before they did so, and a delegation appeared at the May 19 meeting to outline plans and answer questions about glyphosate.

“Sixty-six per cent of chemicals used in the world is glyphosate,” said Eric Jeklin, who was referred to as the glyphosate expert. “I feel really quite comfortable when I talk about it.”

He said the herbicide is absorbed through plant leaves and the company will be using a very week concentration.

“It’s not absorbed in the human body,” Jeklin added, noting the brand the company is using is the most benign one.

“I wouldn’t be using it if I wasn’t quite comfortable myself,” he said. “You have to spray it physically on plants. It basically shuts down the plant. Whatever you spray it on it will kill. We’re just targeting the weed species.”

Jeklin is already using the herbicide on other roads, but said he has kept out of the watershed.

But he emphasized the importance of keep road access to the Holland Lake open.
He said fire crews need to be able to access the area in case of wildfires.

“It is a very popular spot,” he said.

Jeklin said it “cost prohibitive” to remove the brush mechanically.

When asked about keeping the chemical away from waterways, Jeklin said there needs to be a 10 metre pesticide free buffer around fish creeks, plus an additional five to 10 metres.

Jeklin also said if a ditch flows into a fish stream, it also gets a buffer, and spray is kept away from swamps.

The ideal spraying time is when the area is totally dry, around July and August, Jeklin told council.

Mayor Rob Hutchins suggested council get feedback from Vancouver Island Health Authority’s medical health officer before anything happens.

He also pointed out the town has stopped using all herbicides and pesticides.
Timberwest is not in a rush to complete the project.

“It’s not the end of the world not to do it this year,” Jeklin said, but noted more herbicide would need to be used as more years pass.