INTEGRATED VEGETATION AND PEST MANAGEMENT

In accordance with Policy 6520: HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, Bainbridge Island School District follows an Integrated Pest Management program for managing vegetation and pests. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecological approach to suppressing pest populations (i.e. weeds, insects, diseases, etc.) in which alternative pest controls are considered, and where practical, implemented, before chemical controls are used, so that pests are kept at acceptable levels in effective, economical, and environmentally safe ways.

Bainbridge Island School District will manage vegetation and pests in a manner that: utilizes an ecological approach; minimizes the use of pesticides; minimizes risk to human health and the environment; and considers community values in establishing standards of maintenance for Bainbridge Island School District properties.

Definitions

IPM Program: The components of an IPM program are Threshold and Action Levels:

A Threshold level refers to the point in growth of a vegetation or pest population where it will cause an unacceptable impact on: public safety, recreation, or health; natural and/or managed ecosystems; aesthetic values; economic damage to desirable plants; the integrity, function, or service life of facilities.

B. Action level is the level of development of a vegetation or pest population at a specific site at which action must be taken to prevent the population from reaching the threshold level.

Selection of Optimal Strategies: The criteria, not necessarily in order of importance, for selecting treatment tactics and developing pest management strategies include:

A. Minimizes disruptions of natural controls;

  1. Minimizes hazards to human health;

  1. Minimizes negative impacts to non-target organisms;

  1. Minimizes damage to the general environment:

  1. Preserves natural or managed ecosystems;

  1. Likely to produce long-term reductions in pest control requirements;

  1. Effective implementation is operationally feasible;

H. Cost effectiveness in the short and long term.

Timing: Involves applying a treatment action during a vulnerable time in the life cycle of the vegetation or pest while minimizing impact on natural predators and/or other non-target organisms.

Monitoring: Involves the regular surveying of sites and/or features to improve understanding and identify the location and extent of potential pest management problems.

Evaluation: Involves analysis of treatment strategies and prescriptions to help determine the effectiveness of the control program. These records are useful in developing future pest management plans.

IPM Practices: Integrated pest control plans that are specific to a variety of pest management situations and/or pests and vegetation; these plans are based on the principles of IPM.

Pest: Any organism, including plants, animals, and diseases, which by the situation or size of its population adversely interferes with the aesthetic, health, environmental, functional, or economic goals of humans.

Policy 6522

Management Support

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Adopted: December 9, 1999 Bainbridge Island School District