Large-scale herbicide spraying projects across Lassen County pose a serious and ongoing threat to neighboring landowners — especially those located downhill, downstream, or downwind. Despite the known risks of chemical drift, runoff, and groundwater contamination, applicators often take few or no precautions to protect surrounding properties. Most alarming, residents are never informed beforehand.
No agency — including the Lassen County Agricultural Commissioner, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR), or the Lahontan Regional Water Board — conducts monitoring, testing, or public outreach in these areas. There is no warning, no signage, and no follow-up — even when properties sit directly below steep, sprayed terrain.
These chemicals don’t stay put. Wind can carry droplets far beyond the application zone. Surface runoff can funnel herbicides into seasonal creeks, culverts, and wetlands, impacting wildlife, livestock, and private wells. Some herbicides can also leach into aquifers, silently contaminating drinking water over time.
If your property is located near one of these spray zones — especially downhill or downstream — you are at risk, and you were never given a choice.
You can see in these images clear evidence of runoff following a 2,000-acre herbicide application in the Diamond Mountains. The spraying occurred along a steep slope adjacent to a U.S. Forest Service road off of Gold Run Road. Water from the sprayed area runs directly into a drainage ditch beside the road, then enters a culvert and is funneled down the mountain — eventually reaching Gold Run Creek, the Susan River, and ultimately Honey Lake.
This project was run by W.M. Beaty & Associates on land owned by RRF Lassen–Plumas LLC. The scale of the application, combined with the region’s topography and hydrology, presents a clear risk of contamination to downstream water bodies and private landowners. After the initial herbicide application, it is standard practice for applicators to return over the next one to two years to apply additional rounds of chemicals. This practice significantly increases the risk of cumulative contamination affecting both surface water and groundwater resources.
Because W.M. Beaty & Associates failed to implement even basic runoff precautions on this project, at least one adjacent private property has already been contaminated. Independent laboratory results confirmed the presence of Hexazinone — a persistent and mobile herbicide — in surface water sampled downhill from the application site. Despite this evidence, W.M. Beaty has refused to respond to inquiries about the contamination or to acknowledge responsibility.
What You Can Do
If your property is located near a timber operation — especially downhill or downstream — it’s a good idea to test your water and monitor soil or sediment for potential herbicide contamination.
Protect Lassen can assist. We work with certified laboratories that offer testing for the types of herbicides most commonly used in industrial forestry projects across Lassen County, including:
- Hexazinone
- Triclopyr
- Glyphosate
- Indaziflam
- Imazapyr
- Clopyralid
- Aminocyclopyrachlor
- 2,4-D
- Oxyfluorfen
- Penoxsulam
If you are concerned about possible contamination on your land, in your spring, pond, or well, email watch@protectlassen.org for assistance with lab referrals.
You have the right to know what’s entering your water, soil, and environment.
Why Signing the Safe Water, Safe Land Initiative Matters
Signing the Safe Water, Safe Land Initiative is a direct way to demand environmental accountability from the agencies and corporations applying herbicides across Lassen County. It calls for water and soil testing using a tiny fraction of the millions in taxpayer-funded grants these agencies receive every year. Every signature helps build pressure on decision-makers to protect our land, our water, and our health.
Properties With Large Scale Herbicide Application
Table of Contents
Barr Dugan Decedents
Confirmed Herbicide Use on Barr Dugan Decedents Parcel
A state-verified Pesticide Use Report confirms that multiple herbicides were applied directly on this property on July 19, 2024 by . The application covered 53 acres and was conducted by Highlanders Forest, LLC under permit issued by the Lassen County Agricultural Commissioner. The site is identified as “T Barr,” which matches the Barr Dugan Decedents parcel.
Owner: Barr Dugan Decedents
Tax Address: 303 Hamilton St, Redding, CA 96001
County: Lassen
Area: 133.54 acres
Coordinates: 40.34884, -120.71657
Agencies Involved
Lassen Fire Safe Council, Honey Lake RCD, Cal Fire
The following chemicals were used:
- Indaziflam (from Esplanade F Herbicide)
- Hexazinone + Sulfometuron-methyl (from Velossa)
- Triclopyr (butoxyethyl ester) (from Element 4)
- Methylated Seed Oil (MSO) (from Super Spread MSO surfactant)
They will most likely be back again this year and possibly the year after that. Protect Lassen will update if they do.
RRF Lassen – Plumas LLC: West Run
Herbicide Use on RRF Lassen-Plumas LLC / W.M. Beaty & Associates Parcels
State-verified Pesticide Use Reports confirm that W.M. Beaty & Associates applied herbicides on parcels associated with the West Run Timber Harvest Plan during the 2024 application season under permits issued by the Lassen County Agricultural Commissioner.
Chemicals Reported
Roundup Pro Concentrate Herbicide
Active ingredient: Glyphosate
Nufarm Polaris SP Herbicide
Active ingredient: Imazapyr
Super Spread MSO (adjuvant)
Active ingredient: Methylated seed oil
Project Name
West Run
Owner
RRF LASSEN-PLUMAS LLC
Manager
W.M. Beaty & Associates
Tax Address
PO Box 990898, Redding, CA 96099
County
Lassen
Area (Acres)
2,615 acres
Coordinates
40.35093, -120.74896
Agencies Involved
Cal Fire
Public Interest Statement
These figures are drawn directly from records of the Lassen County Department of Agriculture. Protect Lassen is making them available in good faith so the public can understand the extent of herbicide use in local forests. County officials have historically made access to these records difficult, so Protect Lassen compiles and shares them as accurately as possible to ensure transparency.
Herbicide Applicator:
PP Forestry LLC
License #: 46191
License Type: PCM (Pest Control Manager)
Address: 6663 Oakhurst Street, Central Point, OR 97502
RRF Lassen – Plumas LLC: East Run
Confirmed Herbicide Use on RRF Lassen-Plumas LLC/W.M. Beaty & Associates Parcels
State-verified Pesticide Use Reports confirm that W.M. Beaty & Associates (Operator #4500033) applied herbicides on the East Run Timber Harvest Plan during the 2024 application season under permits issued by the Lassen County Agricultural Commissioner.
Chemicals Reported
Roundup Pro Concentrate Herbicide
Active ingredient: Glyphosate
Nufarm Polaris SP Herbicide
Active ingredient: Imazapyr
Super Spread MSO (adjuvant)
Active ingredient: Methylated seed oil
Project Name
East Run
Owner
RRF LASSEN-PLUMAS LLC
Manager
W.M. Beaty & Associates
Tax Address
PO Box 990898, Redding, CA 96099
County
Lassen
Area (Acres)
Unknown, CalFire Timber Harvest Plan lists 0 acres
Coordinates
40.35093, -120.74896
Agencies Involved
Cal Fire
Public Interest Statement
These figures are drawn directly from records of the Lassen County Department of Agriculture. Protect Lassen is making them available in good faith so the public can understand the extent of herbicide use in local forests. County officials have historically made access to these records difficult, so Protect Lassen compiles and shares them as accurately as possible to ensure transparency.
Herbicide Applicator:
PP Forestry LLC
License #: 46191
License Type: PCM (Pest Control Manager)
Address: 6663 Oakhurst Street, Central Point, OR 97502
RRF Lassen – Plumas LLC: Motor Sheep Biomass
Confirmed Herbicide Use on RRF Lassen-Plumas LLC/W.M. Beaty & Associates Parcels
State-verified Pesticide Use Reports confirm that W.M. Beaty & Associates (Operator #4500033) applied herbicides on the Motor Sheep Biomass Project in summer 2024 under permits issued by the Lassen County Agricultural Commissioner.
Chemicals Reported
Roundup Pro Concentrate Herbicide
Active ingredient: Glyphosate
Nufarm Polaris SP Herbicide
Active ingredient: Imazapyr
Super Spread MSO (adjuvant)
Active ingredient: Methylated seed oil
Project Name
Motor Sheep Biomass
Owner
RRF LASSEN-PLUMAS LLC
Manager
W.M. Beaty & Associates
Tax Address
PO Box 990898, Redding, CA 96099
County
Lassen
Area (Acres)
approx. 328 acres
Agencies Involved
Cal Fire
Public Interest Statement
These figures are drawn directly from records of the Lassen County Department of Agriculture. Protect Lassen is making them available in good faith so the public can understand the extent of herbicide use in local forests. County officials have historically made access to these records difficult, so Protect Lassen compiles and shares them as accurately as possible to ensure transparency.
Herbicide Applicator:
PP Forestry LLC
License #: 46191
License Type: PCM (Pest Control Manager)
Address: 6663 Oakhurst Street, Central Point, OR 97502
Circle V Family Trust
Project Summary
Owner: CIRCLE V Family Trust
Tax Address: 705-330 Travis Ln, Susanville, CA 96130
County: Lassen
Area: 157.86 acres
Agencies Involved:
Lassen Fire Safe Council, Honey Lake RCD, Cal Fire
Note:
This project may not have had herbicides applied yet, we are awaiting confirmation. If you are a nearby land owner, down hill or down stream you can contact the Lassen Fire Safe Council (in writing via email is recommended for a paper trail) at cade@lassenfiresafecouncil.org to let them know your concerns and ask questions or contact the property owners at the address above. Let Protect Lassen know how it goes watch@protectlassen.org.
More Coming Soon!
The Lassen Fire Safe Council and Honey Lake RCD refuse to provide any public herbicide records and the Lassen County Agriculture Dept. uses Attorney Michelle Nasise paid in your tax dollars to deny and restrict these public records.
Ask yourself why?