health
Lake Tahoe residents ‘horrified’ by plans to spray cancer-linked glyphosate in public lands
Federal agency to use herbicide to clear lands for replanting after 2021 Caldor fire – but public reaction to plan is fierce
TL;DR
- Residents of Lake Tahoe are protesting a US Forest Service plan to spray glyphosate, a herbicide linked to cancer, in national forest areas affected by the 2021 Caldor fire.
- The Forest Service intends to use herbicides to clear brush and vegetation to facilitate reforestation efforts.
- Locals, including former residents and officials, express horror and concern about the potential environmental and health impacts, particularly on Lake Tahoe.
- The plan involves backpack spraying to minimize damage to non-target plants and reduce the risk of pesticides entering water bodies.
- Opposition includes organizing efforts, town hall meetings, and social media campaigns, with support from groups like Make America Healthy Again (Maha).
- Concerns are amplified by the classification of glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans by WHO experts and its potential harm to endangered species.
- The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) discourages synthetic herbicide use and has requested a meeting with the Forest Service.
- The Forest Service maintains that the herbicides used are registered, have undergone review, and are deemed the 'best tool for achieving forest health or restoration'.