The Lake County Division of Transportation is spraying herbicides along Sheridan Road, Green Bay Road, and other county-maintained corridors in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, and walkers, cyclists, and drivers may encounter applications through Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Two of the three products being used are glyphosate-based, according to a public notice LCDOT posted Wednesday, July 29. The program targets invasive weeds and dangerous vegetation like buckthorn on guardrails, fences, and road surfaces across the county.
Applications run from sunrise to sundown daily. The program began Wednesday, April 1.
What's being sprayed
LCDOT's contractor may use any combination of three products:
- AquaMaster — glyphosate at 53.8% concentration
- Ranger — glyphosate at 41% concentration
- Flumishield SC — flumioxazin at 42% concentration, a broad-spectrum pre- and post-emergent weed control product
According to the county's public notice, LCDOT limits herbicide use to guardrails, fences, and areas where vegetation like buckthorn poses a hazard. None of the three products carry special instructions for the public.
Where in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff
A color-coded map produced by LCDOT's GIS office on July 20 shows treatment locations county-wide. Local roads that appear on the map include Sheridan Road, Green Bay Road, Waukegan Road, Old Elm Road, Everett Road, Half Day Road, Deerfield Road, Lake Cook Road, Port Clinton Road, and U.S. Route 41.
The map uses five color categories: fences (purple), fences on walls (teal), guardrails (red), raised islands (yellow), and surface applications (blue). Residents can check the PDF for exact segments near their homes.
Who's doing the work
TGF Enterprises Inc. is the certified applicator. Project manager Tom Flader holds a current Illinois state license for herbicide application on roadway rights-of-way, as LCDOT requires of all contractors working on county property.
Why the public notice
The announcement fulfills requirements under Illinois Public Act 103-0976, the Pesticide Application on Rights-of-Way Notification Act, which took effect Jan. 1, 2025. The law requires government entities to provide written public notice at least 24 hours before applying pesticides on a public right-of-way, including product names, concentrations, dates, and applicator contact information. The government agency is responsible for the notice even when a private contractor does the spraying.
How to reach LCDOT
Residents with questions or concerns can contact Tom Flader at 847-968-2524 or LCDOT at 847-377-7400. Email inquiries go to [email protected].
The program ends Sept. 30.
