Boulder County Plans Drone Herbicide Spraying Over 2,000 Acres
Boulder County officials plan to use drones to spray indaziflam herbicide to combat invasive cheatgrass, sparking legal challenges and community opposition.
The Government of Boulder County plans to deploy drones to spray indaziflam, a chemical herbicide sold as Rejuvra, over more than 2,000 acres of land. The operation includes the biodiversity-rich Red Hill area and is intended to eliminate invasive cheatgrass to reduce wildfire risks in rugged terrain.
The plan faces significant opposition from the City of Boulder and University of Colorado researchers, who warn the chemical may cause genotoxicity and neurotoxicity while threatening groundwater and native seed banks. Critics also pointed to the presence of PFAS in the product. Boulder County Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann has expressed her opposition to the measure, stating that the community never supported the plan.
Legal battles have surrounded the initiative. While a district court dismissed a 2024 lawsuit regarding pesticide law violations, conservation groups have since filed a notice of intent to sue under the federal Endangered Species Act. Envu, the company that sells the product following its divestiture from Bayer, maintains that the herbicide is safe and effective for preserving native ecosystems.
