Weed & Pest Management

Check out the map below to see where weed control will take place in Okotoks public spaces throughout the summer.

 To view the map in a full browser window click the link below:

View Map

How to use the map:

• Search for your neighbourhood using the search bar in the top right corner.
• Want to check back later? You can bookmark your neighbourhood to easily see updates.
• The date shown indicates when spraying occurs.
• The map pin shows the general area where spraying took place. It may not mark the exact spot, but could represent a larger area (for example, multiple mulch beds in the same location).

Please Note: 

• Dates are tentative and weather dependent. 
• Irrigated parks and playing fields have a 5% threshold for nuisance weeds. Non-irrigated parks, boulevards and medians have a threshold of 15%. These areas are treated accordingly. Refer to the Town of
• Okotoks Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan for further informationMulch beds with trees/shrubs are maintained throughout the summer season for weed management. Each mulch bed will have signs indicating any weed management treatment that has taken place, and signs will also be placed at each entrance of the park or area where the mulch beds have been treated.
   

As a bee-friendly community, the Town recognizes the importance of pollinators & does not apply insecticides, fungicides, or the pesticide that has been determined to contribute to increased bee mortality. Okotoks also has over 325 hectares of natural areas, including the river valley, that are abundant with species that support pollinators such as buffalo bean, Saskatoon berry, poplar, native willow, aspen & Canada buffaloberry! The Town also has initiatives underway to improve the pollinator habitat like replacing traditional turf with a combination of pollinator- friendly plants & ornamental grasses in many areas including Sheep River Blvd, Crystal Green Dr median, Big Rock Tr median & Veterans Way. As a leader in sustainability, the Town seeks to balance community expectations with environmental impacts & is proactive & innovative in our design, maintenance & management of public lands to maintain a sustainable community.

Learn more about the Town's Bee City commitment

Click the names below for an information sheet on each pest or disease, including learning how to identify and address each.

• Black Knot 
• Bronze Leaf Disease 
• Cottony Psyllid 
• Dutch Elm Disease
• Emerald Ash Borer
• European Elm Scale 
• Fire Blight 
• Spruce Sawfly 
• White Pine Weevil 

Click the button below to learn about alternatives to invasive plants.

Grow Me Instead - Alternative to Invasive Plants

Okotoks aspires to be innovative and resilient, balancing community expectations with impacts to the environment. In 2008, Okotoks led the initiative of utilizing weed threshold levels to justify spraying, allowing for some tolerance of weeds in parks and open spaces. The Town’s Integrated Pest Management Plan was again updated in 2016 and reflects all our current practices for the management of weeds and pests on public lands. 

Herbicide:

Manicured turf areas are treated with herbicide by certified pesticide applicators only where total weed coverage exceeds 15% in park areas, 5% in sports fields and high profile sites. In 2016, the Town asked residents through its Conservation Educator Program whether they supported this practice. Of the 408 residents they asked, 327 (80%) were in support. Since incorporating threshold weed spraying other municipalities have followed suit. 

As dandelions are considered a “nuisance” weed due to its stronghold across North America, control is the only expected outcome and eradication not currently possible. However, by controlling weeds on public lands, homeowners have less of a need to purchase and apply these chemicals themselves.  Where citizens wish to not have herbicide utilized in their neighbourhood park, the Integrated Pest Management Plan makes a provision for that requiring neighbourhood support on that decision.

In Okotoks, water conservation is a priority and most parks and open spaces are non-irrigated, except for sports fields. Lack of irrigation coupled with generally low precipitation prevents turf from being able to outcompete weed species such as dandelions.

Pollinators:

The Town acknowledges the importance of pollinators and does not use neonicotinoids, the pesticide family that has been determined to contribute to increased bee mortality. Although dandelions do provide early food for pollinators, there are a number of other early bloomers that assist here such as buffalo bean, Saskatoon berry, poplar, native willow, aspen, and Canada buffaloberry. These species are abundant in our natural areas including the river valley of which comprise over 260 hectares within our Town boundary, exceeding the land area of manicured turf on public lands.

As a Bee City, the Town has a number of new initiatives underway to improve pollinator habitat. Where some narrow or steep turf areas exist, the Town has replaced traditional turf with a combination of pollinator friendly plants and ornamental grasses.  These plantings not only improve the aesthetics, but eliminate the need for mowing and herbicide use.  Some examples of areas where this has been undertaken include Sheep River Boulevard, Southridge Emergency Services site, Operations Centre, Crystal Green Drive median, and the Big Rock Trail median. In 2017, many pollinator plants were incorporated into the re-landscaping of Veterans Way.  We will be expanding this initiative by incorporating these practices into new subdivision areas. Residents can also get authorization from the Town to convert turf boulevards adjacent their property to mulches or alternate groundcovers in a similar fashion.

The Town of Okotoks will continue to be proactive and innovative in our design, maintenance, and management of public lands to develop a resilient and beautiful community. Okotoks continually reviews best practices and looks for opportunities and innovative ways to reduce any impacts to the environment.

​Q: Does the Town of Okotoks have a mosquito monitoring and control program?

A: Yes, mosquito larvae are sampled and controlled in surface waters on public lands.

Q: What is the control method used for mosquito control?

A: A biological control agent is released into the water to control mosquito larvae. The product is the dead spores of Bacillus
thuringiensis, a natural soil bacterium.

Q: Is chemical fogging of adult mosquitoes performed?

A: No, the Town does not fog adult mosquitoes.

Q: Will aerating storm ponds reduce mosquito populations?

A: No, storm ponds have extremely low mosquito larvae populations already that they currently do not require treatment.

Q: If not storm ponds, where do mosquitoes come from?

A: Roadside ditches are the main culprit for harbouring large populations of mosquitoes and other small stagnant sources of water are the main sources of mosquitoes.

Q: Is West Nile Virus a concern for Okotoks?

A: The threat of people contracting West Nile virus is low in central Alberta. Mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus require a longer warmer season than is typical in this region, however, a long, hot summer can increase the risk.

Q: What can residents do to help?

A: Ensure no standing water is left in yards such as spare tires, plant trays, pails, blocked swales, etc. Ensure water is refreshed in rain barrels and bird baths regularly. 

Yes. By law, we must control weeds listed as Noxious or Prohibited Noxious under the Alberta Weed Control Act.

We only use herbicides on targeted areas on sports fields, when necessary, as outlined in our Integrated Pest Management Plan. To minimize our herbicide usage, we use non-chemical methods first (called cultural controls) to keep weeds under control and help grow thick and healthy grass to outcompete the weeds. These include:

• Automated irrigation
• Soil aeration
• Soil top dressing and over seeding
• Adding soil and re-seeding
• Fertilizing
• Dethatching (removing dead grass)
• Soil amendments (applying special soil products with natural enzymes

Please note, there is a 15m pesticide free buffer zone around playground and tot lots.  

We only consider spraying if more than 5% of the field has weeds, based on regular inspections.

The field is safe to use once the spray has dried, which usually takes about 30 minutes depending on the weather.

We only use herbicides such as Roundup where absolutely necessary in places like concrete medians or mulch areas where people don’t usually walk, as well as for noxious and prohibited noxious weeds, as mandated by the Alberta Weed Control Act. Because we’re a Bee City, we take extra care to limit its use and protect pollinators.

The Town has tried non-synthetic alternatives to glyphosate, including Fiesta (iron chelate) and horticultural grade vinegar. Fiesta is very expensive and the results were ineffective. Horticultural grade vinegar has some effectiveness, but it negatively impacts the soil pH, has a strong odour, and is corrosive on equipment. We also plant beds densely and use mulch to prevent weeds from growing in the first place.

Residents have the opportunity to request herbicide-free treatment in their neighbourhoods through the IPM plan; however, it’s important to note that this opt-out option applies only to cosmetic or nuisance weeds, such as dandelions. A minimum of 75% of the neighbourhood must agree to the change in service level. Even then, the Town is still legally obligated to control noxious and prohibited noxious weeds under provincial legislation. These species pose a risk to native ecosystems and agricultural lands, and managing them may require the full range of control options available to us—including herbicides. Eliminating those tools entirely could limit our ability to meet regulatory requirements, particularly in the event of a ministerial order for targeted weed control.

To learn more, please contact Okotoks Parks.

The Alberta Weed Control Act categorizes weeds into two classes:

1. noxious – weeds must be controlled
2. prohibited noxious – weeds must destroyed.

You can find a comprehensive list of noxious and prohibited noxious weeds listed as part of the Alberta Weed Control Act. 

The Town contracts certified pesticide/herbicide applicators who are required to adhere to provincial Occupational Health and Safety Standards. If they are not wearing PPE, the substance they are spraying does not require it.

A new kind of grounds crew is coming to town! From June 1 to June 20 (weather dependent), a herd of goats will be helping manage invasive weeds in a portion of the off-leash dog park. This pilot project uses natural grazing to target weeds like thistle while supporting long-term vegetation health.

Goats will be monitored 24/7 by the contractor staying on site and there will be fencing within the park that is doubled and braced to prevent it from being blown over or pushed over by people or dogs. The fenced area will cover approximately 16.4 acres, leaving about 22.4 acres available for public use.

Check out where the goats will be grazing at the Off Leash Dog Park, and what area will remain open to the public: 

Goats Map

• Goats are a natural and effective way to manage invasive plants. 
• They prefer weeds like thistle over grasses.
• Help reduce reliance on herbicides.
• Support long-term ecological balance.
• Can access areas that are difficult to maintain with equipment.
• Selective weed control (grass stays and weeds are eaten).  

From June 1 to 20 (weather dependent), about 16.4 acres of the Off-Leash Dog Park will be temporarily fenced for the goats to graze, and approximately 22.4 acres will remain open for public use. The goats are expected to work through about one acre per day. The contractor will be on-site 24/7 to monitor the herd. 

Please note, there are baby goats on-site. If you hear them "screaming," this is normal and how they communicate with their mothers.

To help keep both people and animals safe: 

• Do not touch, feed, or approach the goats.
• Keep dogs away from fenced areas.
• Respect all fencing and signage.
• Electric fencing is in place for the fence directly surrounding the goats to safely contain them. The perimeter fencing is not electric. 
   

You may notice grazed areas immediately following the project. Over time, this approach helps: 

• Reduce invasive weeds.
• Improve overall vegetation health.
• Support a more balanced and resilient landscape.

This is a pilot project, and results will help guide future use.

We are working closely with the contractors who will be supplying the goats. They are providing healthy goats who are used for targeted grazing and are selected to safely perform vegetation management in the dog park. Goat manure is made up of small pellets that dry rapidly, break apart with weather and foot traffic, decompose naturally into the soil, and add organic matter and nutrients to the landscape. Since goat manure is not a wet, concentrated waste like dog feces, it tends to be less persistent in the environment. By the time goats leave a site, the sun, rain, soil microorganisms, insect activity, and moisture content all begin breaking down the manure naturally. In a grazed natural pasture setting, goat pellets typically disappear much faster than many people expect. Additionally, when the goats have left the site, and before we re-open the area, we will bring the tractor into the area with a harrow and break up any remaining pellets which will then be worked into the soil.