Dorris Hazelnut Ranch Transitions to Organic
Community concerns about pesticide drift lead to organic pest management at Dorris Ranch
Dorris Ranch is a highly prized and popular community asset. It is a public park used for recreation, rest and introspection, summer day camps, public tours, photography shoots and botany study.
However, Dorris Ranch is unique because it is not only a public park, large sections with hazelnut trees are also managed privately as a commercial orchard. But to the public user, there is no physical differentiation between the public parts and the agricultural sections that are managed with conventional pest management, including the use of harsh pesticides, fungicides and herbicides.
Willamalane Parks and Recreation District established an Ad Hoc Advisory Committee in 2021 when park visitors and neighbors living along Inland Drive and Harbor Drive near Dorris Ranch experienced repeated air blast pesticide applications in the orchard. Some sprays were within 100 ft. of neighboring backyards.
Recent Updates
VICTORY!
The Willamalane Parks and Recreation District Board of Directors voted in December 2021 to stop using excessively potent pesticides and herbicides at the historic Filbert orchards at Dorris Ranch. The decision came after a summer of community concern due to neighbors of the orchard experiencing pesticide drift at their homes.
Willamalane to end use of most toxic pesticides at Dorris Ranch orchards (Adam Duvernay, Register-Guard, Dec. 10, 2021)
Background
The neighborhood is primarily mobile homes and low-income and working class families, many of whom rely on growing food on their residential property.
Many neighbors of Dorris Ranch are elderly AND/OR speak English as a second language, and have limited internet access. These groups are considered the most vulnerable to exposure to toxic chemicals.
In August an orchardist applied a routine restricted-use pesticide (Asana XL) to prevent filbert worms. Asana XL is a Restricted Use Pesticide and highly toxic to fish, bees and other pollinators. It is harmful if inhaled.
Orchard Airblast application along trails. Photo courtesy of Oregon Department of Agriculture.
At the time, there was an extreme heatwave and people were preparing and consuming food and drink in their backyards. The evening after this pesticide application, we collected vegetation samples from a neighbor's garden and sent them to a certified laboratory in Seattle, which showed evidence of drift onto vegetation along Inland Drive.
We discovered that the orchardist routinely sprays scheduled pesticides from March through August. 18 separate applications, including multiple pesticides, occurred during this 6 month period.
Beyond Toxics and the staff at Willamalane worked together to ensure that visible signage was placed along entryways to the park and the paths, that a minimum of 100’ buffer zones between sprays and nearby homes was observed and that there was better communication about planning upcoming pesticide applications.
Orchard Airblast results in fine droplets of pesticide that move away from the orchard. Photo courtesy of Oregon Department of Agriculture.
Growing community concern about harsh chemicals in the orchard and the surrounding homes, paths, trails prompted the formation of a Dorris Ranch Ad Hoc Advisory committee. This committee reviewed various aspects of the Dorris Ranch hazelnut orchard management, the history of the orchard and its historic importance, and the contract with the private orchardist.
Dorris Ranch does not operate with an integrated pest management plan that would reduce pesticide exposure for children, pets, neighbors and park visitors. We interviewed a highly skilled local organic hazelnut farmer and learned that the Dorris Ranch orchard can and should transition to an organic management system to better protect human and environmental health in public parks and recreation spaces.
Local organic growers have also expressed interest in working with Willamalane to manage the orchard using organic methods and add further distinction to Dorris Ranch as a model public asset.
Recent News
Dec. 10, 2021: Willamalane to end use of most toxic pesticides at Dorris Ranch orchards
(Adam Duvernay, Register-Guard)
Dec. 4, 2021: Willamalane may adopt organic management practices at Dorris Ranch after pesticide use concerns (Adam Duvernay, Register-Guard)
Oct. 8, 2021: Commercial-grade pesticide use at Willamalane's Dorris Ranch orchards in Springfield under scrutiny (Adam Duvernay, Register-Guard)
