Fear that herbicides are poisoning Orange County creeks blows up on social media

"We want an end to the use of herbicides in our creeks. This idea that we're just going to spray, hose down these creeks and leave them dead is unacceptable. Linas and other residents have filed requests for records detailing the chemicals the county uses to control vegetation in the waterways, such as glyphosate, triclopyr and imazapyr."

"Brent Linas, a 41-year-old tech sales director in San Juan Capistrano, launched the Creek Team OC Instagram account after seeing changes on his runs along San Juan and Trabuco creeks. Lush green reeds in the channel had suddenly turned brown and lifeless, and birds had disappeared. Linas said when county officials ignored and brushed aside his complaints, he and others turned to social media."

"Their effort has exposed tensions between people who see the waterways as natural creeks and county officials who see them as flood channels. The account has gained more than 4,600 followers in three weeks and residents have used artificial intelligence to make illustrations resembling movie posters and old-fashioned magazine ads."

San Juan Capistrano residents, led by tech sales director Brent Linas, created the Creek Team OC Instagram account to protest Orange County's use of herbicides in waterways. The campaign emerged after residents observed vegetation die-off and wildlife disappearance in San Juan and Trabuco creeks following chemical spraying. The account gained over 4,600 followers in three weeks through creative social media content and documented evidence of herbicide application. Residents filed records requests for information about chemicals including glyphosate, triclopyr, and imazapyr used for vegetation control. The movement highlights fundamental disagreement between residents viewing waterways as natural ecosystems and county officials managing them as flood control infrastructure. County Public Works officials defend their vegetation management practices, while residents demand an end to herbicide use.

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