Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Resources

Mission Statement

The mission of the City of Denton's Integrated Pest Management Plan is to manage pests that are harmful to the health, function or aesthetic value of City landscapes and public health in a manner that is efficient, effective, environmentally-responsible, and with careful attention to the safety of the public and department employees.

To accomplish this, the principles of Integrated Pest Management are endorsed. This approach uses multi-faceted strategies that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.

Goals

The goal and intent of this plan is to produce an evolving and living document that provides a method and approach to guide the maintenance of public property and land. The focus and goals are:

  • Strive to better connect communities to nature and enhance sustainability through conservation practices. Areas of focus include promoting sustainable practices and strategies that address the effects of climate change, preserving wildlife, growing a next generation of environmental stewards, and supporting programs and policies that encourage a commitment to conservation.
  • Minimize the use of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) level pesticides by applying in a targeted manner and only if deemed necessary when pests cannot be managed by other methods.
  • Create and maintain a safe environment for visitors and staff that protects and preserves natural resources, park facilities, and amenities through design, operations, and education.
  • Ensure stewardship of the public's resources through fiscal accountability, responsible planning, and effective management.
  • Educate and promote natural areas and cultural practices through programing such as organic community gardening, community tree plantings, and litter abatement.
  • Create an active learning environment using design such as interpretative signage with a focus on natural and historical education.
  • Provide a natural, healthy, educational, and social environment and ensure all people have access and are meaningfully involved in the development and use of park and recreation programs and spaces.
  • Facilitate a sustainable IPM plan and program that endures leadership and staff transitions through thorough documentation of the policy, plan, actions, and results.

Overview

The Integrated Pest Management Plan is a decision-making process to determine pest levels and tolerance thresholds and combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools to minimize health, environmental, and financial risks.

This plan uses extensive knowledge about pests, such as infestation thresholds, life histories, environmental requirements, and natural enemies to complement and facilitate biological and other natural control of pests. It coordinates the use of pest biology, environmental information, and available technology to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means, while posing the least possible risk to people, property, resources, and the environment.

In the past, Keep Denton Beautiful has planted milkweed along the undeveloped tree lines at South Lakes Park and North Lakes Park. Denia Recreation Center also has a natural garden planted and maintained by Keep Denton Beautiful and volunteers.

We are still exploring other areas within the park system to introduced the wildflower/butterfly seed mix. These butterfly gardens add to the beauty of the parks as well as reduce the need to mow the areas regularly.

  1. Evaluation & Reporting
  2. Defined
  3. Asset Management
  4. Pesticide Use
  5. Safety, Laws & Regulations
  6. Criteria for Choosing a Pest Management Method
  7. Approved Pest Management Strategies 

The IPM plan is meant to be a living document that evolves with organizational, environmental, and technological changes. The plan will be evaluated in full every 3 years by group of stakeholders identified by the Director of Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) or designee. Stakeholders would include but are not limited to representatives from gardening groups, local educators, governmental agencies, partner organizations, field experts, and engaged citizens at a minimum of 8 serving members.

It is PARD’s goal to meet with the stakeholder group on an annual basis to keep the group updated on IPM activities and receive feedback on recommended and proposed changes. Legal, regulatory, procedural, and administrative changes can be made in the interim review period. All changes must be documented on Appendix 10: Revisions of the plan.

PARD will assess the effectiveness of the plan and the progress of stated goals by developing relevant, meaningful, and measurable performance indicators. Goals and measures will include pesticide risk reduction and reducing pesticide use through the tracking of chemical and non-chemical interventions. The indicators will be drafted on an annual basis during the budget process and reported quarterly.