Capistrano Unified Pauses Weed Sprays for 60 Days as Ladera Ranch Cancer Fears Spread
Updated
Updated · OCRegister · Aug 28
Capistrano Unified Pauses Weed Sprays for 60 Days as Ladera Ranch Cancer Fears Spread
2 articles · Updated · OCRegister · Aug 28
Summary
Capistrano Unified School District imposed a 60-day pause on maintenance products and weed-spray applications after families raised concerns about chemicals used on campuses.
District records showed landscapers had sprayed Cheetah Pro—containing glufosinate-ammonium, the same chemical tied to alarm in Ladera Ranch—during the previous school year.
Aug. 13 board discussions pushed for a permanent halt; trustees said the pause could extend beyond 60 days and ordered annual reviews of approved pesticides and herbicides.
Orange County activism has widened beyond Ladera Ranch, with Newport Beach ending synthetic herbicide use on athletic fields and San Clemente tightening its pesticide policy.
The fight remains fragmented because cities, school districts, HOAs and counties control different land, leaving residents to challenge pesticide use agency by agency across nearly 5,000 HOAs.