County narrows glyphosate exceptions, orders yearlong finish of Integrated Vegetation Management Plan

Bernalillo County on March 25 adopted a revised vegetation‑management resolution directing Parks, Recreation & Open Space (PROS) and Natural Resources staff to complete an Integrated Vegetation Management and Maintenance Plan (IVMMP) within roughly 12 months and to include landscape conversion priorities and design standards.

Lede: The board voted 4–1 to approve a March‑revised resolution that (1) rescinds the existing administrative moratorium language from 2019, (2) requires the county to finish an IVMMP within one year, and (3) temporarily permits limited, narrowly defined spot use of glyphosate in high‑hazard paved hardscape areas and for invasive species control until the plan is adopted.

Nut graf: Commissioners and community members debated safety, alternatives and staff training. Staff said mechanical and organic controls have been less effective and more labor intensive and asked for a limited temporary exception while the IVMMP is finalized; community members and public commenters urged stricter limits or an outright ban. The approved motion tightened the areas where glyphosate may be used, added reporting and recordkeeping requirements, committed to reduced herbicide use in new or renovated landscapes, and directed the IVMMP to include costed capital projects to convert high‑maintenance “gravel/cobble” landscapes to lower‑maintenance native plantings.

What passed: The adopted March 2025 resolution (amended on the floor) includes the following principal provisions: a one‑year period for development and adoption of the IVMMP; requirement that the plan include an expanded integrated pest management (IPM) section, landscape design standards, a capital improvement plan prioritizing landscape conversions, peer‑reviewed best practices, and herbicide use records; a temporary, narrowly circumscribed glyphosate exception through an interim date (as adopted by the board) to permit spot treatments in pavement joints/cracks, non‑vegetated medians and other high‑hazard paved hardscape areas, and allowance for glyphosate as last‑resort invasive species control per IPM guidance; and a prohibition on glyphosate for new and renovated landscapes except as approved by the IVMMP.

Why commissioners changed the resolution: Chair Olivas asked staff and the steering committee to reconvene after a February deferral. Staff and the steering committee incorporated changes to clarify which sites qualify for temporary exceptions, to require more explicit capital‑conversion planning, and to add language that acknowledges scientific concerns while saying risks can be mitigated with proper training and personal protective equipment.

Public input and staff concerns: Public commenters included a county parks maintenance worker who urged spot glyphosate use with appropriate PPE to increase efficiency and safety for crews working on medians and road shoulders; other residents urged stricter limits citing litigation and scientific studies. Staff emphasized that mechanical removal has been labor intensive, that many gravel/cobble landscapes trap seed and are difficult to manage, and that converting those landscapes to native plantings will reduce long‑term maintenance and pesticide reliance.

Next steps: The resolution requires PROS and Natural Resources to complete the IVMMP in 12 months, present a midyear progress report, and include: landscape conversion CIP estimates; specific best practices by landscape type; integrated pest management protocols; and a public record of herbicide usage. Commissioners also asked staff to work with the steering committee and to include guidance for staff safety on high‑traffic sites.

What it does not do: The adoption does not permanently lift the moratorium without conditions; rather it replaces prior language with a tightly structured, time‑limited framework intended to reduce herbicide use long term while addressing worker safety in high‑hazard sites.

Quotes (selected) "We are asking for a temporary exception in narrow circumstances because mechanical controls have been ineffective in some high‑hazard settings," said Colleen Bronson, Stormwater Compliance Program Lead, Public Works and Natural Resource Services (presentation). "The IVMMP will include design standards and a CIP for landscape conversion to reduce long‑term herbicide dependence."

"We need to continue to reduce chemicals and invest in native plant conversions," said Commissioner Barbola, arguing for strict limits on where herbicides may be used.

"Risks of glyphosate use can be mitigated through proper training and PPE," County legal and staff counsel noted, language later incorporated in the amended resolution.

Speakers and roles in the record: The discussion included input from Parks/PROS staff and the IVMMP steering committee, testimony by union maintenance workers who perform roadside and median work, and multiple public commenters. The board deferred to staff for a detailed IVMMP process and set reporting expectations.

Implementation risk and monitoring: Implementation is medium risk: the county must complete a multi‑departmental plan with capital projects, incorporate public comment and peer review, and meet a 12‑month deadline while maintaining daily operations. The resolution establishes explicit reporting and recordkeeping to allow future audit and evaluation of herbicide use and landscape conversion costs.