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ClimateQuiet 7d · day 7

Boulder County poised to spray herbicide drones over Colorado wildland despite community outcry

Red Hill residents and scientists warn of health and environmental risks from indaziflam spraying, which county officials say is necessary to prevent wildfires.

newest coverage 7d agosummary written 6d ago4 pieces8 likes & upvotes NewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • Boulder County is moving forward with drone spraying of indaziflam herbicide over Red Hill despite community and scientific opposition, citing the need to prevent wildfires by eliminating invasive weeds.
  • Residents and researchers warn the chemical poses health risks to humans and wildlife, particularly through water contamination, and that indaziflam's PFAS content persists in the environment.
  • The plan, initially scheduled for 2025, was paused after backlash but is now resuming with mitigation measures (buffer zones, drift reduction) that critics say are inadequate.
  • Boulder County residents argue that a county known for environmental sustainability should pursue non-chemical alternatives rather than become 'ground zero' for testing a relatively new herbicide.

“County officials say the plan is an effective and essential move that will wipe out invasive weeds and mitigate the risk of dangerous and costly wildfires that could use the unwanted vegetation as fuel.”

Boulder County officials, County administration · The Guardian ↗ · Oct 31

Boulder County officials Sponsoring the drone spray projectAzuraye Wycoff Yellow Barn Farm owner, community residentUniversity of Colorado researchers Environmental scientistsBayer Indaziflam herbicide developerLocal environmental advocates Community opposition group

Boulder County poised to spray herbicide drones over Colorado wildland despite community outcry
theguardian.com

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 4 pieces in two hours at Nov 1, 8 AM; 4 pieces over 7 days (3 articles · 1 post) Nov 1, 8 AM — 4 pieces · 3 articles · 1 post — Newswires 2, Mastodon 2Nov 1, 10 AM — quietNov 1, 12 PM — quietNov 1, 2 PM — quietNov 1, 4 PM — quietNov 1, 6 PM — quietNov 1, 8 PM — quietNov 1, 10 PM — quietNov 2, 12 AM — quietNov 2, 2 AM — quietNov 2, 4 AM — quietNov 2, 6 AM — quietNov 2, 8 AM — quietNov 2, 10 AM — quietNov 2, 12 PM — quietNov 2, 2 PM — quietNov 2, 4 PM — quietNov 2, 6 PM — quietNov 2, 8 PM — quietNov 2, 10 PM — quietNov 3, 12 AM — quietNov 3, 2 AM — quietNov 3, 4 AM — quietNov 3, 6 AM — quietNov 3, 8 AM — quietNov 3, 10 AM — quietNov 3, 12 PM — quietNov 3, 2 PM — quietNov 3, 4 PM — quietNov 3, 6 PM — quietNov 3, 8 PM — quietNov 3, 10 PM — quietNov 4, 12 AM — quietNov 4, 2 AM — quietNov 4, 4 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 8 AM — quietNov 4, 10 AM — quietNov 4, 12 PM — quietNov 4, 2 PM — quietNov 4, 4 PM — quietNov 4, 6 PM — quietNov 4, 8 PM — quietNov 4, 10 PM — quietNov 5, 12 AM — quietNov 5, 2 AM — quietNov 5, 4 AM — quietNov 5, 6 AM — quietNov 5, 8 AM — quietNov 5, 10 AM — quietNov 5, 12 PM — quietNov 5, 2 PM — quietNov 5, 4 PM — quietNov 5, 6 PM — quietNov 5, 8 PM — quietNov 5, 10 PM — quietNov 6, 12 AM — quietNov 6, 2 AM — quietNov 6, 4 AM — quietNov 6, 6 AM — quietNov 6, 8 AM — quietNov 6, 10 AM — quietNov 6, 12 PM — quietNov 6, 2 PM — quietNov 6, 4 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 8 PM — quietNov 6, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quietToday, 10 AM — quiet 1
Nov 2Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6yesterdaynow · 11:26 AM ET
  1. 1

    Boulder County resumes herbicide drone spraying plan for Red Hill

    The county is moving forward with spraying hundreds of acres of Red Hill with indaziflam (brand name Rejuvra) using drones. The plan covers more than 2,000 acres total and includes mitigation measures such as no-spray buffer zones and drift reduction, though it is met with continued opposition.

    “It really directly affects all residents downstream from this. There are a lot of people in our community who are really livid about it.”
    — Azuraye Wycoff, Yellow Barn Farm owner
  2. background

    University of Colorado researchers publish study warning of indaziflam risks — Two CU researchers published a journal article highlighting ecological and human health risks from indaziflam spraying, citing concerns about genotoxicity and neurotoxicity, and arguing the cheatgrass problem cited as justification for spraying is overblown.

  3. background

    Boulder County pauses drone herbicide spray plan after community backlash — After community residents opposed the plan, Boulder County officials paused the drone spraying project over Red Hill, which had been set to begin.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 3 outlets Colorado community fights plan to use drones to spray weed killer

    first by Mastodon, 7d ago · also Guardian Environment, Guardian US