A Storm Brewing On Piermont Landing

On July 13th, residents of Piermont Landing appeared in significant numbers at the Piermont Village Board's monthly meeting to vehemently state their opposition to the Landing's new approach to dealing with weeds: spraying pesticides.

According to Marte Schulwolf, spokesperson for the Piermont Pier Alliance (PPA), "...after 28 years of not using chemical landscaping, now pesticides are being applied out on the Pier." (The term "pesticide" includes insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides.) She and the other members of the Alliance, as well as many village residents, are outraged, especially in view of the 1985 Village Board designation of the Pier as a "Critical Environmental Area."

The first application took place on April 13th of this year. The landscaper selected by the Piermont Landing Home Owner's Association (PLHOA) sprayed a "weed and feed" product composed of synthetic fertilizer and an herbicide containing dithiopyr. This chemical is a restricted-use product in New York State due to its toxicity to aquatic organisms. It has, along with other herbicides, been associated with higher risks of bladder cancer in dogs according to some studies.

Some residents contend that a second application took place on June 18th.

Additional applications of pesticides are scheduled, including one of the chemical imidacloprid, an insecticide; and two fall applications of a four-herbicide cocktail containing 2,4-D, a component of the infamous Agent Orange of the Vietnam War era.

In response to the concerns of the PPA, Richard (Rob) Burns, President of the PLHOA, and a Piermont Village Board Trustee, provided the following comments:

"Piermont Landing, for many years, only used organic applications on our lawn areas...Despite all our efforts the weeds took over and we lost control of our lawns..It was...decided to try, for a LIMITED TIME ONLY, a more aggressive approach to control the problem...In response to [suggestions] the [PLHOA] Board limited the area of application and excluded the area to the south adjacent to Ferry Road and the dog walking area next to the 100's on Gair Street. We do not apply any application near the River."

Pier residents and others at the meeting voiced their concerns. Newcomer to Piermont, Wendy Sobelman, pointed out the documented dangers of these pesticides. She stated that she is concerned about babies crawling on the sprayed lawns and the harmful effects that the chemicals may have on them. In an interview with this reporter, she said, "I've lost many people to cancer...these chemicals are dangerous to people, and to dogs."

Fact sheets published by the National Pesticide Information Center on 2,4-D and imidacloprid, seem to back up the claims.

The 2,4-D fact sheet states that breathing its vapors may cause coughing and dizziness in humans. In dogs and cats that come into contact with the product on recently-sprayed lawns, it may cause vomiting, diarrhea, staggering, or convulsions.

The imidacloprid fact sheet indicates that exposure may cause skin or eye irritation, dizziness, breathlessness, confusion, or vomiting in humans. In pets, the symptoms may include difficulty walking, tremors, and skin reactions.

At the heart of this issue is the concept of the American lawn. Many feel that a perfectly manicured, weedless lawn must be maintained for appearance sake and resale value. While organic approaches to lawn maintenance work, often their efficacy is not as great as that of their synthetic chemical counterparts. It is quite possible, however, that if the opposing sides come together to reason out an approach, they will succeed in designing one that will satisfy both sets of needs.

Perhaps that solution lies in utilizing a combination of approaches, including some creative ones. These might include reducing lawn and planting shrubs and perennials in their place, with a good layer of mulch. This is a tried and true method of weed reduction. Utilizing weed whackers and burners are chemical-free alternative methods for eliminating those unwanted dandelions and so much more. A safe, widely used practice for large plots of weeds consists of just covering them with plastic sheets until they wither. Many communities hold block parties. Why not have block weeding parties, where the residents come out, socialize, have refreshments, and pull a few weeds during the spring and summer months; or, alternatively, organize groups of volunteers to do the job? More importantly, why not provide Piermont Landing's residents with the type of educational information that will promote greater understanding of the landscape and the environment so that an occasional weed will not be so objectionable? After all, it took recycling 20+ years to become acceptable as a practice among average Americans. In due time, with an effort on education, the issue of a few weeds may simply not be an issue anymore.