**PLEASE NOTE - DONATIONS DO NOT GO TO CREEK TEAM**

Protect Our Water, Our Beaches, and Endangered Wildlife

Orange County residents are calling for immediate action to stop the use of glyphosate and other toxic herbicides in the creeks, channels, and waterways throughout Orange County, California.

Orange County Public Works (OCPW) authorizes herbicide applications across 146 waterways and facilities totaling more than 2,071 acres throughout Orange County!

This is not just a local concern. It is a public health issue, an environmental crisis, and a direct threat to federally protected wildlife.

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What Is Happening

In a December 15, 2025 public notice, Orange County Public Works announced its intent to apply aquatic herbicides and algaecides throughout 2026 across hundreds of acres of creeks, channels, basins, and waterways across Orange County — including treating 350 acres of Santa Ana River Channel, 30 acres of San Juan Creek, and connected storm channels that drain directly to the ocean.

The notice confirms the planned use of multiple chemical pesticides, including:

• Glyphosate (commonly known as Roundup)
• 2,4-D
• Diquat dibromide
• Imazamox
• Imazapyr
• Triclopyr
• Sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate (algaecide)

Applications may occur any time of year between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM, meaning spraying can take place during sensitive ecological periods and peak public recreation seasons.

According to community monitoring and reporting, over 100,000 gallons of herbicides are sprayed annually in Orange County waterways.

To date, San Juan Creek alone has already received approximately eight tons of glyphosate.

San Juan Creek flows directly into Doheny Beach, a beloved public space where families swim, children play, and surfers enter the water every day. Yet OCPW continues to spray chemical herbicides directly into this living waterway.

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Why This Matters

🌊 This Is Not Just One Creek — It’s a Countywide Water System

Some of the largest treatment areas include major regional waterways that connect entire communities to the ocean, such as:

• Bolsa Chica Channel — 95 acres
• East Garden Grove Wintersburg Channel — 93.06 acres
• Carbon Creek Channel — 86.54 acres
• Santa Ana River Channel (multiple reaches totaling hundreds of acres)
• Greenville Banning Channel — 66.29 acres
• Westminster Channel — 51 acres
• Santiago Creek Channel — 52.32 acres
• Aliso Creek Channel — 44.93 acres
• San Juan Creek Channel — 29.97 acres (flows directly to Doheny Beach)

These waterways form a connected watershed network carrying water and anything introduced into it downstream through neighborhoods, wetlands, and ultimately into the Pacific Ocean.

When herbicides are sprayed upstream, their impacts do not remain confined to a single location.

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🏖️ Coastal Waters and Public Recreation Are Directly Affected

Many of the treated channels discharge into or influence coastal environments used daily by the public, including beaches where residents and visitors swim, surf, fish, and recreate.

San Juan Creek flows directly into Doheny State Beach, meaning chemicals applied upstream travel into nearshore ocean waters where exposure becomes unavoidable for marine life and the public alike.

Clean beaches depend on clean upstream waterways!

 
🐟 Federally Protected Wildlife Is at Risk

The Southern California steelhead trout — one of the rarest fish populations on Earth, with approximately 177 individuals remaining — relies on San Juan Creek and connected waterways designated as critical habitat under a federal recovery plan involving more than 35 agencies.

At the same time millions of taxpayer dollars are being invested to restore this species, herbicide applications continue in the very habitat meant to support its recovery.

Orange County Public Works’ own permit states it “does not authorize any take of endangered species.”
Spraying herbicides within designated critical habitat raises serious concerns about whether current practices align with that protection.

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🌱 There Are Proven Alternatives

Other Southern California regions, including San Diego County, increasingly manage waterways by allowing native vegetation and habitat restoration to stabilize creek systems naturally. Healthy ecosystems improve water quality, support biodiversity, and reduce long-term maintenance needs without repeated chemical inputs.

Orange County has the opportunity to adopt modern, ecosystem-based management that protects both flood safety and environmental health.

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Why Community Action Matters Now

For more than six months, residents have raised concerns and requested change. Instead of reducing chemical use, plans now extend herbicide applications countywide through 2026.

This petition is about protecting the our waterways, beaches, wildlife, and communities of all Orange County residents.

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This Is a Community Issue

For more than six months, residents and environmental advocates have raised concerns with Orange County Public Works. Despite community outreach and growing public concern, chemical spraying plans continue — expanding into 2026.

We believe Orange County can do better!

We are not asking for neglect of waterways.
We are asking for modern, science-based, environmentally responsible management that protects flood control, public health, and ecological health.

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What We Are Asking For

We call on Orange County officials to:

Immediately halt glyphosate and toxic herbicide spraying in OC’s creeks, channels and basins.
Suspend aquatic pesticide use in federally designated critical habitat.
Transition toward non-toxic and ecological vegetation management methods.
Increase transparency and public notification before any chemical applications.
Work collaboratively with scientists, environmental groups, and the community to adopt safer long-term solutions.
 

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How You Can Help

1. Sign and share this petition
   Strength in numbers is how communities create change. Share with neighbors, surfers, families, and anyone who cares about clean water and wildlife.
   
   
2. Contact Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley and demand safer policies

Phone: (714) 834-3550

Email: katrina.foley@ocgov.com
cc: abby.paulson@bos5.ocgov.com

Mail:
Office of Supervisor Katrina Foley
Orange County Board of Supervisors
400 W. Civic Center Dr.
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Let our county leadership know we do NOT support toxic herbicides in our waterways.

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Our Message Is Simple

Clean water should never come at the cost of poisoned ecosystems.

We can protect flood safety and protect wildlife.
We can manage vegetation without contaminating our creeks and beaches.

Orange County residents deserve waterways that are safe, living, and sustainable — now and for future generations.

Sign today to help stop toxic herbicide spraying in San Juan Creek and Orange County waterways!

Stay connected with frequent updates on this issue on Instagram: 
@creekteam_oc 

Supporters of this effort include: 
@toxicfreeoc
@theecologycenter
The Farm Association
@beyondpesticides