Chemical Use Policy

Friends of the Mississippi River’s Land Conservation activities protect and restore biologically diverse natural areas throughout the Mississippi River watershed in the Twin Cities region. These natural areas provide important water quality benefits and essential habitat for native fauna, like migratory songbirds and insects, upon which our food web relies.

Our habitat restoration work often requires controlling invasive plant species that threaten to displace native species and degrade wildlife resources. When control is needed, we use best management practices (BMPs), including mechanical, biological, manual and chemical methods. 
FMR takes the use of chemical methods, like herbicides, very seriously.

We strive to avoid or minimize herbicide use, but many invasive plant species simply cannot be controlled without them, especially at scale. We recognize and accept that short-term use of chemicals is sometimes necessary to achieve long-term benefits for wildlife. 

When necessary, FMR contracts with state-licensed commercial pesticide applicators. In addition to following strict EPA guidelines stated on each chemical product’s label, these contractors are required by FMR to: 
• Avoid chemicals use when other effective, feasible methods, such as mechanical methods, exist.
• Use targeted, spot-treatment applications versus broadcast applications when possible.
• Minimize the amount of chemical applied, and use a formulation with the lowest toxicity and residual persistence.
• Avoid the use of neonicotinoids, especially related to native seed treatments, and follow state guidelines and BMPs related effects of herbicides on pollinators.
• Follow application BMPs near water, during various weather conditions, and to prevent drift to non-target species.

FMR does not use herbicides at — or within seven days prior to — volunteer land conservation events.

(Approved 5/18/2016)