Orange County officials have indefinitely stopped spraying herbicides in creeks near Doheny State Beach after community members waged a social media campaign demanding the practice end. The decision marks a significant shift in how the county manages vegetation in waterways, replacing chemical treatments with manual removal methods while officials study long-term alternatives. What Prompted the County to Change Course? The push for change began when Brent Linas, a San Juan Capistrano resident and runner, noticed something alarming during his regular jogs along San Juan and Trabuco creeks. Lush green reeds that had lined the waterways suddenly turned brown and lifeless. After investigating, he discovered the county was using chemicals including glyphosate, triclopyr, and imazapyr to clear vegetation from flood control channels. Linas launched the Creek Team OC Instagram account on February 6, and the response was immediate. Within weeks, the account gained more than 5,400 followers who shared images of workers spraying chemicals and created illustrations using artificial intelligence styled like vintage movie posters with slogans such as "Stop the Ecocide!". The grassroots effort caught the attention of county officials and residents alike. How Did the Community Win This Victory? The turning point came when Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley held a town hall meeting in Dana Point on Monday to address the community's concerns. More than 200 residents packed the room to voice their opposition to herbicide spraying. At the meeting, Foley made a clear announcement: "For the indefinite future, we will not be using any spraying of any kind of herbicide, Roundup or otherwise, in the channel," according to statements made at the town hall. Foley explained her reasoning in an interview following the meeting, saying, "We want to reduce the amount of chemical toxins that we're using in the community overall. That's my personal view, which I think the community shares." She noted that she had personally raised concerns about Roundup use in the San Juan Creek flood channel about a year earlier, but the community engagement provided the momentum needed to implement change. What Chemicals Were Being Used in the Waterways? County officials had long relied on chemical herbicides to maintain flood control channels by clearing unwanted vegetation. The specific chemicals residents discovered being sprayed included: - Glyphosate: A widely used herbicide commonly known by the brand name Roundup, used to kill broadleaf plants and grasses - Triclopyr: A selective herbicide designed to target woody plants and brush in waterways - Imazapyr: A broad-spectrum herbicide used to control various plant species in aquatic environments Residents expressed concern that these chemicals were poisoning the creeks, harming wildlife, and potentially threatening public health. The waterways in question, including San Juan Creek, flow directly into the ocean near Doheny State Beach, a popular recreational area. What Happens Next? Rather than continuing chemical spraying, Orange County will now remove vegetation from flood channels by hand or with mechanical equipment. Foley is forming an advisory group to conduct a wider review of how the county manages unwanted plants in washes throughout the region. The community's work isn't finished. Linas and Creek Team OC members plan to expand their efforts beyond San Juan and Trabuco creeks. Their next target is the Santa Ana River, which reaches the ocean on the south side of Huntington Beach. "We have to help the rest of the county end this practice," Linas said, emphasizing that "the public overwhelmingly declared that they do not want this practice occurring in their backyard". At the town hall, Linas reflected on what the campaign had accomplished, telling the assembled crowd, "This is democracy, right here. We can change things." His comment was met with applause from residents who had spent three weeks pushing for environmental protection in their community.
