Page 1 - PGA Community News - November '19

VOL. 29 NO. 11 FAX 561-624-9088 • E-MAIL canpga@yahoo.com NOVEMBER 2019

Commissioner’s

Update

Weed Awareness

If you would like to be considered as a candidate for the PGA POA By Commissioner
Board of Governors elections being held at the Annual Meeting on Hal Valeche

Let’s talk about those
nd
January 22 please email or drop off a letter of introduction with pesky plants that sprout up
your name, contact info and qualifications to: in your yard where they’re
least desired. Weeds are
PGA POA Nominating Committee commonly defined simply
7100 Fairway Dr. #29 as plants in the wrong place.
With our moist,
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418 subtropical climate,
Email: DawnL@LangManagement.com weeds can be challenging
SUBMITTAL DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019. to manage. Palm Beach
County’s Cooperative Extension Service Environmental
Horticulture Program in partnership with the University
of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
Northern Notes (UF/IFAS) provides the most current, research-backed
information to help meet the needs of residents and
businesses.
Environmental Sustainability lines could burst creating a safety hazard for staff as well as Our local horticulture experts tell us that your approach
the potential for the hydraulic oil to contaminate the nearby to controlling weeds should start with scouting your
By O’Neal Bardin, Jr., waterways. Diesel engines create noxious exhaust and use property and identify the types of weeds to determine
Executive Director, Northern fossil fuels to power them. Both hydraulic oil and diesel what management methods will work best. For instance,
Palm Beach County fuel are also flammable as well. Over the years, Northern some weeds found in our area like the dollar weed are
Improvement District has replaced older diesel driven hydraulic pumps with aquatic, indicating an area receiving too much water.
The Staff at Northern direct drive electric pumps. Not only are these pumps more “Florida Snow” which is seen covering many lawns in the
Palm Beach County efficient; they are also more environmentally friendly. county and contains small white flowers, can indicate dry
Improvement District Northern’s Emergency Operations Center was designed conditions. Some weeds are spread by birds, yet others are
work hard to maintain the and built to withstand a Category 5 hurricane and provide a found in compacted soils. There’s a lot to consider, but if
stormwater systems and safe working environment for essential staff during and after you can get a handle on controlling weeds, you won’t have
infrastructure within their the storm. Power loss and power fluctuations are common to use as many chemicals to fight them.
areas of responsibility. in severe storms. This can damage electrical equipment and All weeds are easier to control when small and prior to
Northern also has a sensitive computerized systems. The Emergency Operations flowering. Once they flower, the seeds can easily spread.
responsibility to protect the environment where we live Center has a generator that will power the building during Some steps you can take to prevent weed growth include:
and work. Given that responsibility, many of our systems periods of power outages or fluctuations. This generator • Purchase garden soil that is formulated for beds and
are designed for environmental sustainability. Electric runs using natural gas rather than diesel fuel. This is a more is likely to contain little to no weed seed
stormwater pumps, propane generators and remote telemetry reliable and cleaner fuel for running this type of generator. • Edge around your beds
operations of stormwater equipment are a few of the many In 1998, Northern initiated its SCADA Telemetry System. • Install edgers, pavers and garden walls
ways that Northern limits its impact on the environment. With the original investment, four remote telemetry units • Clean mowers and tools
Stormwater pumps are used to move excess stormwater were constructed in Ibis Golf and Country Club, as well as • Check the nursery stock that you purchase and dispose
out of an area to eventually deposit in a larger downstream a central base station at Northern’s headquarters. Over the of any weed material
body of water. These pumps range in size from 25-horsepower past 21 years, the telemetry system has been expanded to To control weed growth in your lawn, experts recommend
pumps to massive 150-horsepower pumps. They move from 69 remote sites spread throughout Northern’s jurisdiction. that you mow at the higher level, since this will create shade
2,000 to 35,000 gallons of water per minute! Pump stations in The remote telemetry units monitor water levels, and have and keep some weeds from germinating. Too little or too
some areas have two pumps, one for redundancy, while others programmed logic to adjust those levels using operable much water or fertilizer can also encourage weed growth.
can have up to six pumps. That’s a lot of water moving at one gates and stormwater pumps. The telemetry units can also As you know, mulch is a popular method for weed
time! When these pump stations were first constructed, most be operated with computers at a central location or out in control. The best type is coarse, textured mulch, two
of the pumps were run by diesel engines. They were loud, the field. This allows staff to minimize the number of trips inches thick, in pine or hardwood bark. Cypress mulch
messy and dangerous machines. High pressure hydraulic out to various sites using fuel powered vehicles. is not recommended because it is mostly harvested from
Northern Palm Beach natural areas and wetlands. Additionally, rubber mulch is
County Improvement also not recommended, because it is made from recycled
District is committed to tires that can leach heavy metals and other chemicals into
environmental sustainability soil, aquifers and storm water runoff. Rubber mulch also
and is always looking for absorbs heat, does not decompose or add organic matter,
ways to improve current and is a potential fire hazard.
functions. Northern is Weed control is also very important to the county
dedicated to utilizing in maintaining our natural areas. Palm Beach County
progressive science and
technology to accomplish Commissioner’s Update on page 2
that goal.