Subject: FW: DNR Press Release March 11, 1999 - Pesticide Diazinon Found I
Date: Mar 12 15:11:16 1999
From: Li, Kevin - Kevin.Li at METROKC.GOV


Tweets,
FYI

Kevin Li
King County Environmental Lab
322 West Ewing St.
Seattle, WA 98119

(206) 684-2344


> ----------
> From: Dascil, Valerie
> Sent: Friday, March 12, 1999 10:10 AM
> To: ZZDept, Natural Resources
> Subject: DNR Press Release March 11, 1999 - Pesticide Diazinon Found
> In KC Streams
> Importance: High
>
> Homeowners Treating Lawns For Crane Flies In Spring the Culprit?:
>
> Pesticide Diazinon Found In Nine Out Of Ten King County Neighborhood
> Streams
>
>
> March 11, 1999 Media Contacts: Carolyn
> Duncan, DNR, 206-296-8304
> Annette Frahm, DNR,
> 206-689-3064,
> Erika Schmidt, The Frause
> Group, 206-628-7898
>
> Seattle, WA - March 11, 1999 -- Scientists found the pesticide
> diazinon in tested urban and suburban streams throughout King County
> neighborhoods in a sampling project conducted last spring. In all but one
> of ten streams, the concentration of diazinon exceeded standards for
> long-term exposure of aquatic life. This leads to concern about possible
> effects on the threatened chinook salmon.
>
> King County Hazardous Waste Management officials believe that
> homeowners treating lawns for crane flies in the spring are the likely
> culprits for this pollution. As a result, officials recommend that
> homeowners follow natural lawn care practices this spring before rushing
> out to apply chemicals such as diazinon.
>
> "People seldom make the connection between what they put on their
> lawns and the environment," said Annette Frahm. "They don't realize the
> damage that lawn chemicals, such as diazinon, may do. With all of the
> attention on industrial pollution, the stuff in our own backyards often
> gets overlooked. What we ask is that people pay attention and whenever
> possible look toward natural approaches."
>
> The sampling project was a partnership effort of the U.S. Geological
> Survey, the Washington Department of Ecology and the King County Hazardous
> Waste Management Program. The samples were taken during rainstorms in
> April and May of 1998 as part of a long-term effort to monitor pesticides
> in area streams.
>
> Streams with concentrations of diazinon that exceed standards for
> long-term exposure of aquatic life are: Thornton and Longfellow creeks in
> Seattle; Miller Creek in the Des Moines area; Little Soos Creek in Auburn;
> Sunset and Lewis Creek in Bellevue; Valley Creek in Bellevue; Juanita
> Creek in Kirkland; and Lyon Creek in Mountlake Terrace. The standards
> used are those set by the State of California (the only state with such
> standards).
>
> Scientists have previously expressed concern at the high levels of
> diazinon that continue to be found in local streams. They have suspected
> long-term harm to fish and other aquatic life. There has also been
> concern about the effect on birds that feed on crane fly larvae.
>
> In March of 1998, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
> received reports of several dozen ducks in the King County area that died
> while feeding on lawns. The ducks died in convulsions after eating a
> pellet form of diazinon. The department was sufficiently concerned to
> issue a press release about the misuse of the pesticide. Diazinon has
> been banned for use on sod farms and golf courses because of such bird
> kills, but it remains registered for use on home lawns.
>
> Most lawn care experts agree that a healthy lawn is naturally
> resistant to crane fly damage and requires no pesticides.
>
> According to Frahm, a natural lawn care approach that includes
> mowing to the right height, leaving grass clippings on the lawn and
> watering deeply, but infrequently, can help keep lawns resistant to insect
> infestations. Birds and other predators also help to keep lawn pests in
> check. In fact, a healthy lawn can have 25 to 40 crane fly larvae per
> square foot and show no damage.
>
> "People can save time and money-and help water quality-if they
> don't just run out and treat for crane flies," Frahm says. "If a problem
> is suspected, it's easy to do a quick check. Dig a six-inch square of
> grass in suspicious yellowing areas or in wetter spots of the lawn and
> tear it apart to look for the larvae."
>
> While natural lawn care is the recommended practice by King County,
> Frahm says that if people must use diazinon or other pesticides, they
> should do so with care. The best time to treat crane fly populations is
> in early spring, from around April 1st through the 15th, when the larvae
> are most active.
>
> "We find that a lot of people treat their lawns in late summer when
> they see the adult flies but by then it's too late," said Frahm. "People
> should also pay close attention to directions on the package so they don't
> over-apply and have the runoff end up in their local streams."
>
> Diazinon is a pesticide used to control a variety of lawn and garden
> insects. It is commonly used to control the European crane fly, which can
> cause damage to lawns during the larvae cycle in late fall and early
> spring. Heavy crane fly infestations can leave brown patches in lawns.
>
> To receive free information about crane fly control and natural lawn
> care, call the King County Hazardous Waste Management hotline at 888 /
> 860-LAWN, or visit King County's least toxic pest control web site at
> www.metrokc.gov/hazwaste/house.
>
> King County is part of the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program
> in King County, a cooperative effort of local agencies and cities to
> reduce and manage hazardous waste from households and small businesses.
> The Natural Lawn Care Project is a joint project of King County, the
> cities of Seattle and Bellevue, and Thurston County.
>
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