top of page

Progress from LARMAC Board Meeting

Sep 9
2 min read

A little over two months ago, residents showed up at a LARMAC Board meeting asking for a reduction in pesticide use and more transparency about what was being applied in our community. At that point, the only concrete next step we were able to get was the creation of a resident advisory committee.

 

None of us knew whether that committee would lead to meaningful change, or how quickly anything could move. Last night, the LARMAC Board approved five landscape-management resolutions presented by LARMAC, including a defined path toward a comprehensive Organic Land Management Plan to be brought back for Board consideration by the end of 2026.

 

The approved actions include:

• Expanding high-use and resident-contact areas where routine synthetic pesticide use will not be allowed, including parks, paseos, areas near walkways and sidewalks, clubhouse grounds, pools and similar areas.

• Suspending synthetic herbicides, including Specticle G and Lifeline, in lower-use and limited-access areas such as slopes, medians, open space, fuel-modification areas and large planter areas while alternatives are evaluated.

• Suspending Atrimmec and other plant-growth regulators in those same areas while alternative maintenance practices are evaluated.

• Beginning slope mapping and working with qualified Organic Land Management professionals to evaluate alternative weed-management strategies.

• Evaluating insecticide and rodenticide use, including whether some routine applications and bait stations can be reduced, relocated or limited to areas where monitoring shows an actual need.

• Improving pesticide notification and communication with residents.

• Returning to the Board in November with a progress report and next steps.

 

Ladera is not an easy community to transition. We have nearly 1,000 acres of maintained landscaping, extensive slopes, difficult soils, irrigation challenges, reclaimed water, creeks and drainage systems, fuel-modification requirements, fire risk, ornamental and non-native plants, limited budgets and high expectations for how the community should look.

 

That is exactly why this process has to be thoughtful.

 

There was also important discussion about implementation, costs, contractors and what can happen immediately versus what needs more evaluation. There is still work ahead. But this is significant progress in a very short period of time.

 

For context, our neighbor, RMV, has the same property management company and the same landscape company and they are still spraying pesticides, including Lifeline. The changes in Ladera have occurred because our community has pushed, and our board has listened.

 

We will continue advocating for adoption of a full Organic Land Management Plan that meets the needs of the whole community while reducing reliance on synthetic pesticides, improving transparency, and protecting the places where residents and children live, walk and play.

 

Research Begins!


The Board also approved access for Cal State Fullerton researchers to begin non-invasive environmental testing in Ladera Ranch. That is a major development. We will share more once testing is actually underway.

  Best,

Jackie French


 

STAY CONNECTED

Please encourage your friends and neighbors to sign up for these updates through our website LaderaHealthWatch.org

 



 

These are our official channels for information about our investigation and advocacy.

 
 
bottom of page