PESTICIDES
Provision C.9 of the Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit requires businesses to use safe, effective practices that prevent pesticides from harming local creeks and streams. To support these efforts, CCCWP helps Contra Costa Permittees with the following:
- Tracking and participating in pesticide regulatory initiatives.
- Sharing training opportunities for municipal employees and contractors on Integrated Pest Management and similar practices.
- Providing outreach to residents on safer pest management choices and proper pesticide use and disposal. Visit CCCWP’s Home & Garden page to learn more.
- Coordinating with the County Agricultural Commissioner on local pesticide-use and water quality information.
Integrated/Sustainable Pest Management Information
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) uses a combination of methods to manage pests effectively while prioritizing the least toxic options to protect local waterways. Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) builds on IPM practices by emphasizing ecosystem‑based approaches to achieve long‑term pest prevention. Furthermore, SPM considers IPM practices within larger systems, including human health and equity, environmental protection, and economic resilience. Resources for both approaches are available below.
Benefits of IPM and SPM
- Less exposure to harmful pesticides for families, pets, and pest control professionals
- Cleaner air, soil, and water
- Better protection for helpful insects and other wildlife
- Can lower overall pest management costs
- More safe and effective options to choose from (“More tools in the toolbox!”)
Types of Pest Control Methods
- Prevention – Keeping pests from invading in the first place.
- Examples: Reduce pest access to food, water, and shelter; Inspect for pests and signs of pests around your home and garden.
- Cultural Control – Using practices to reduce pest spread, establishment, reproduction, and survival.
- Examples: Changing irrigation practices; Changing planting locations or timings.
- Physical/Mechanical Control – Physically removing, disrupting, or killing pests without chemicals.
- Examples: Setting traps for rodents; Spraying water to knock off aphids; Hand-picking weeds.
- Biological Control – Using ecology to regulate pest populations.
- Examples: Attracting beneficial insects; Releasing specific insects like ladybugs to eat aphids
- Chemical Control – In IPM and SPM, chemicals are used as a last resort, when safer methods have not proven effective alone.
- Examples: Selective pesticides that target specific pests while minimizing harm to beneficial organisms; Spot-spraying instead of broad applications; Using bait stations or targeted applications to reduce environmental impact.
Learn more at What Is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)? | ipm.ucanr.edu and SPM and IPM Overview | California Department of Pesticide Regulation.
Training and Continuing Education Resources for Maintenance and Pest Control Professionals
See the links below for external training courses, seminars and resources for professional landscapers and pesticide applicators.
Useful Pest Control Resources for Everyone
Contra Costa County Agricultural Commissioner (CCCAC)
The Contra Costa Clean Water Program stays in contact with the County’s Department of Agriculture, Office of the CCCAC, to stay updated on the latest information regarding how to prevent or report pesticide-related impacts to water bodies. Previous presentations from CCCAC are in the Archive section below.
Visit Pesticide Regulation | ContraCosta.CA.gov for additional useful local information, including the following: pesticide-related complaints, grower and production agriculture resources, pest control businesses, and pesticide use reporting and data.
Archive
CCCAC Presentation to CCCWP Municipal Operations Committee, 2026 (PDF) (Greg Spurlock, Deputy Agricultural Commissioner, and Diana Oseguera, Agricultural Biologist/Inspector II)
- What does the Contra Costa County Dept. of Agriculture do?
- Inspections and Requirements
- How to Verify Licenses
- Pesticide Use Notifications
- Vector Control Questions
- Reporting misuse of pesticides
CCCAC Presentation to CCCWP Municipal Operations Committee, 2025 (PDF) (Greg Spurlock, Deputy Agricultural Commissioner, 2025)
- What does Contra Costa County Agricultural Department do?
- How to verify licenses
- Pesticide Use Notifications
- Vector Control Questions
- Reporting Misuse of Pesticides
Pesticide Use Enforcement – CCCAC Presentation to CCCWP Municipal Operations Committee, 2023 (PDF) (Erin Herbst, Deputy Agricultural Commissioner)
- What does Contra Costa County Agricultural Department do? (slide 2)
- How to verify licenses (pg. 11)
- How to report misuse of pesticides (pg.28)
- Pesticide Disposal
- Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), Contract Hauler, Event for Growers
| Report Spills/Illegal Dumping
Business