Pesticides and Rural Rights

Because of their proximity to forests and agriculture, and the need to maintain rustic roads, rural areas are among the most susceptible to pesticide spraying.

Oregon’s lush forests are among the most productive on earth, all due to vibrant biological activity. However, routine and repeated aerial applications of herbicides on private timberlands are destroying the viability of Oregon’s forests and harming critical fish and animal habitat – and endangering the health of Oregonians living in rural areas. Chemical drift and spray run-off contaminate forests soils and waters. Chemical drift also deposits on private homes, school grounds and public roads.

Approximately 800,000 acres of Oregon’s forests were sprayed with chemical herbicides in 2005 for the purpose of weed control. Over 80,000 acres of pine, fir and oak forests in Lane County were sprayed in 2006.

As if that's not enough, chemical herbicides are applied to the shoulders of State and County highways each spring to control weeds. This is a dangerous, and often, unecessary practice. Herbicides are powerful poisins and many have been shown to cause cancer. Children waiting at bus stops are especially vulnerable.

What is OTA Doing?

In response, rural residents and advocacy groups in Lane County are partnering with Oregon Toxics Alliance to expose the extent and harm of commercial spray operations and promote sustainable forestry and roadside maintainence practices.

Oregon Toxics Alliance is currently focusing on promoting alternatives to roadside spraying and creating a spraying notification network for rural residents.