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Tri‑Creek to use herbicides and growth inhibitors to manage vegetation under solar panels
Summary
Facilities staff said integrated vegetation management—combining mowing with targeted herbicides and growth inhibitors—will be used to control weeds and small trees under district solar arrays to protect equipment and lower maintenance costs.
District facilities staff told the board that weed and small‑tree growth under campus solar arrays had outpaced the grounds crew’s ability to control it by mowing alone and that the district will adopt an integrated vegetation management approach.
"We're going to use some herbicides and growth inhibitors underneath just the panels, just so that slows the growth down underneath those. And then we're going to mow it also," Jason, the district facilities presenter, told the board. He said the plan is timed for pre‑emergent applications in September–October and estimated cost savings of 30–50 percent over current mowing and repair costs, which he approximated as roughly $100–$300 per acre in reduced fuel, breakdowns and labor.
Staff framed the approach as reducing panel shading and the risk of equipment damage while promoting low‑growing pollinator plants. They said contractors are being solicited for quotes and that the chemical applications would be limited to the area beneath panels to minimize off‑target effects. Mowing will continue on a modified schedule, and the district expects the combined approach to preserve solar output and campus appearance.
Board members asked which campuses were affected; staff said the middle school and larger panel fields required the greatest attention because smaller elementary sites are easier to maintain. Staff also noted some districts and private installations use grazing animals such as goats or sheep in large solar fields, but the district will proceed with chemical and mechanical controls given site constraints and safety concerns.
No environmental review or permit requirements were discussed in the meeting; staff said they are obtaining contractor quotes and will return to the board with vendor proposals and any needed safeguards or label‑restricted application details.
