STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
August 4, 2026
CONSENT
18 SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR EXPANSION OF COUNTY OPERATED TRIAL HERBICIDE
FREE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN FLOOD CHANNEL
WATERWAYS TO INCLUDE ALISO CREEK
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Support expanding the County's trial vegetation management pilot program to include Aliso Creek and authorize the Mayor and Councilmember Rounaghi to communicate the City's position before the Orange County Board of Supervisors through correspondence, public testimony, and discussions with County officials, as appropriate; and
2. Determine that the proposed action is not a project pursuant to Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines and therefore no further environmental review is required.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
The City of Laguna Beach values environmental stewardship, including mitigating the use of synthetic herbicides. Over the past several years, the City has transitioned several maintenance activities into manual and mechanical vegetation management practices, demonstrating that alternative treatment methods can be successfully implemented in certain applications.
On June 9, 2026, the Board of Supervisors approved a pilot project to be conducted by OC Public Works to evaluate manual and mechanical removal methods of vegetation in the San Juan and Trabuco Creek channels as part of a broader effort to reduce chemical use in Orange County waterways. This pilot program did not include Aliso Creek.
In response to community feedback, Councilmember Rounaghi raised the issue of expanding the pilot to include Aliso Creek with Supervisor Foley. She indicated her support for this proposal and willingness to bring it forward to the Board of Supervisors at the August 11, 2026 meeting.
At the July 21, 2026 City Council meeting, Councilmember Rounaghi proposed a future agenda item to secure the Council’s support for this proposal ahead of the August 11, 2026 Board of Supervisors meeting.
This was supported by at least City Councilmembers, allowing for this agenda item to come forward at the July 11, 2026 City Council meeting.
Staff recommends that the City Council support expanding the County's trial vegetation management pilot program to include Aliso Creek and authorize the Mayor and Councilmember Rounaghi to communicate the City's position to the Orange County Board of Supervisors through correspondence, public testimony, and discussions with County officials, as appropriate.
SUPPORT FOR EXPANSION OF COUNTY OPERATED TRIAL HERBICIDE FREE
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN FLOOD CHANNEL WATERWAYS TO
INCLUDE ALISO CREEK
August 4, 2026
DISCUSSION
City Policy Context
The City supports opportunities to reduce herbicide use where practical while continuing to meet public safety, environmental, and maintenance objectives. Rather than viewing vegetation management as a choice between herbicide use and no maintenance, the City's approach has been to evaluate available treatment methods and implement manual or mechanical alternatives where they can effectively achieve operational objectives.
This approach recognizes that vegetation management practices should be evidence based, operationally feasible, and tailored to the conditions of each site. Staff believes Orange County's trial program reflects this same philosophy by evaluating alternative treatment methods before considering broader policy decisions.
County Alternative Treatment Program
Orange County is responsible for maintaining flood control channels throughout the County to ensure public safety and preserve flood conveyance capacity. Vegetation management within these facilities has historically included the use of herbicides to control invasive species and maintain channel functionality.
In response to community concerns regarding herbicide use, Orange County Supervisor and Vice Chair Katrina Foley initiated an effort to evaluate alternative vegetation management methods that reduce reliance on chemical treatments while continuing to meet the County's flood protection responsibilities.
Supervisor Foley's leadership resulted in Orange County Public Works announcing a countywide pause on herbicide use while alternative vegetation management practices are evaluated. During the pause, Orange County Public Works will observe invasive vegetation growth patterns and evaluate manual and mechanical vegetation removal methods to determine their effectiveness.
At its June 9, 2026 meeting, The Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a pilot project for Orange County Public Works to evaluate manual and mechanical vegetation removal methods in the San Juan and Trabuco Creek channels as alternatives to synthetic herbicides. The Board also directed Orange County Public Works to continue related vegetation management efforts and return in one year with the results of the pilot program.
City Experience with Alternative Vegetation Management
The City has implemented vegetation management practices that prioritize manual and mechanical methods in place of herbicide use where feasible. Working in partnership with the community, the City transitioned its fuel modification program from one that previously included glyphosate applications to an entirely mechanical treatment program. Although the change increased maintenance costs, the program continues to achieve its fire safety objectives.
SUPPORT FOR EXPANSION OF COUNTY OPERATED TRIAL HERBICIDE FREE
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN FLOOD CHANNEL WATERWAYS TO
INCLUDE ALISO CREEK
August 4, 2026
The City's approach extends beyond fuel modification. The City maintains the Aliso Estuary and adjacent portions of Aliso Creek, including the removal of invasive and persistent Arundo, without the use of herbicides. Vegetation is removed manually as part of routine maintenance generally performed on a quarterly basis. Throughout the City's landscaped areas, maintenance relies on manual and mechanical methods, and organic treatment products are used where appropriate in place of herbicides.
The City's experience demonstrates that alternatives to herbicide use can implemented in appropriate circumstances. While not every application is directly comparable, Laguna Beach's experience supports exploring alternative vegetation management practices through carefully designed pilot programs that balance environmental stewardship, operational effectiveness, and public safety.
Expansion of the County Trial Program to Aliso Creek
Since the City assumed maintenance responsibility for the South Laguna Beaches and Aliso Creek within the City's jurisdiction, Orange County Public Works no longer maintains any portion of Aliso Creek within the City limits. Staff identified County maintained segments upstream of Laguna Beach that could be suitable candidates for inclusion in the trial program.
Staff believes expanding the County's trial program to include Aliso Creek would broaden the evaluation by providing a broader range of operating conditions in which to assess alternative vegetation management methods. Including Aliso Creek would allow the County to evaluate whether manual and mechanical treatment methods can achieve the same operational objectives while continuing to meet flood protection responsibilities before considering broader policy decisions.
The very features that made San Juan and Trabuco worth protecting apply equally to Aliso. All three discharge to a popular family beach with a lagoon at the creek mouth — San Juan and Trabuco to the freshwater lagoon at Doheny State Beach, Aliso to the lagoon at Aliso Beach, where children wade and play directly in the creek water.
Staff's recommendation is intended to support a comprehensive, evidence-based evaluation of alternative vegetation management practices rather than advocate for a predetermined outcome. By including Aliso Creek in the trial program, the County can gather additional operational experience that may help inform future vegetation management practices while continuing to prioritize flood protection, public safety, and environmental stewardship.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action has not financial impact to the City’s budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action is limited to expressing the City's position on a proposed Orange County vegetation management pilot program through a letter to the Orange County Board of Supervisors. The action does not commit the City to a definite course of action, approve a project, authorize construction or
SUPPORT FOR EXPANSION OF COUNTY OPERATED TRIAL HERBICIDE FREE
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN FLOOD CHANNEL WATERWAYS TO
INCLUDE ALISO CREEK
August 4, 2026
physical changes to the environment, or result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change.
Accordingly, the recommended action is not a project pursuant to Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines and is not subject to CEQA review.
ATTACHMENTS
None
Submitted By:
. Approved: .David A Kiff
Jeremy Frimond, Assistant City
Manager
Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Jeremy Frimond, Assistant City Manager