Advisory Board: Integrated Pest Management Advisory Committee-IPM & Nature-Based Climate Solutions (NBS) Subcommittee
Subject: 4. REVIEW the grazing decision tree and ADVISE staff on possible revisions.
Presenter: Wade Finlinson
Contact: 925.655.3214
Information:
The bylaws of the Integrated Pest Management Advisory Committee (IPMAC) list several purposes of the Committee. Those include:
• Making policy recommendations upon assessment of current pest issues and evaluation of possible IPM solutions.
• Providing a forum for communication and information exchange among members in an effort to identify, encourage, and stimulate the use of best or promising pest management practices.
• Promoting transparency in pest management decision-making by County Departments.
Referral History and Update:
The IPM Decision-Making Subcommittee is currently the only standing subcommittee of IPMAC. In pursuit of the above purposes, the Subcommittee creates and revises documentation to transparently depict rationale for pest management decisions within County operations. These documents often include recommendations for operational refinement.
Among other pursuits, the Decision-Making Subcommittee plans to review the Public Works Vegetation Management Decision Tree for Grazing later this year. It was recommended that the newly activated ad hoc IPM & NBS Subcommittee conduct a review of the document and suggest revisions to be included when the Decision-Making Subcommittee takes up the item.
The decision tree was created in 2015 and has not been revised since. It appears that it only applied to flood control parcels managed by the Maintenance Division and primarily focused on hired targeted grazing herds typically comprised of goats and sheep. It does not mention the process for considering traditional cattle grazing leases which are also used within various County operations.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
Staff recommends reviewing the attached decision tree and advising on potential revisions.
IPMAC bylaws allow inviting subject matter experts from other agencies to provide input on issues studied by subcommittees. Such invitations require a majority vote of subcommittee members. Staff recommends voting to invite applicable guests to present at future meetings if desired.