Jim Washburne, SAHRA/AZrivers & Candice Rupprecht, Master Watershed Stewards

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1 Tucson Jim Washburne, SAHRA/AZrivers & Candice Rupprecht, Master Watershed Stewards

2 Tucson Arundo Removal Mission: To coordinate and facilitate the removal of Arundo donax in the Tucson area Goals: Supervise removal activities Educate the public about this threat Protect the Sabino Creek riparian system Encourage public participation

3 Arundo donax L Giant Cane, Elephant Grass, Spanish Cane, Carrizo Cane Monocot, Poaceae Stalk and leaves resemble corn and is sometimes confused with Bamboo Rapidly grows to 20 feet (3-4 in/day) The danger: Giant reed can completely overwhelm native vegetation, which reduces wildlife habitat, increases fire risks and interferes with flood control James H. Miller, USDA Chris Evans, River to River

4 Arundo donax L

5 USDA NRCS Characteristics Moisture Use High => Precipitation, in Drought Tolerance Low Temperature, Minimum ( F) 7 Frost Free Days, Minimum 220 Fire Tolerance High Salinity Tolerance None Anaerobic Tolerance Medium CaCO 3 Tolerance Low Planting Density per Acre, Maximum 7200 Shade Tolerance Intermediate Root Depth, Minimum (inches) 24 Cold Stratification Required No plants.usda.gov/java/charprofile?symbol=ardo4

6 Plant Water Use Fast growing thirsty Water use [af/ac/yr] Ratio Arundo / Plant Arundo donax Tamarisk ~4 Alfalfa 5 ~4 Cottonwood 3 ~2 ~10 Mesquite

7 Introduced/Exotic non-native species Invasive & Noxious (most) Invasive & Noxious Weeds A non-indigenous species that adversely affect the habitats they invade economically, environmentally or ecologically Characteristics Hardy, drought tolerant, rapidly re-colonize disturbed areas, spreads readily, out competes native plants

8 Other Local Invasive Grasses Buffelgrass Pennisetum ciliare Cheatgrass Bromus tectorum Fountain grass Pennisetum setaceum

9 RANGE AND USES

10 Historical Range Mediterranean Coastal areas Tigris & Euphrates Marsh lands India Himalayan foothills plantsforuse.com

11 Current Range Discover Life: pick4.pick.uga.edu/

12 Historical uses Erosion control Reed instruments Paper Basketry Structures wind/sun Fishing rods Arrow shafts Ornamental Ref: plantsforuse.com Marsh Arab hut iraqupdate.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/

13 Uses: Musical Instruments "Canne de Provence marshlands of Villepey, on the St Tropez peninsula, near Hyères. hyeres/

14 Uses: Bio fuel / / ti Proposed: $7500/ac bond ~$60 Million

15 Uses: Medicinal Bufotenine A poisonous hallucinogenic alkaloid obtained from toads and some plants (answers.com) DMT - Dimethyltyrptamine allows you to break into another universe known as hyperspace that will be an experience that will change your life Contact Dermatitis?

16 Southwestern & MX Infestations Rio Grande Big Bend to Del Rio ~60,000 acres Texas? Cuatro Cienegas ~275 acres Lower Colo.River ~5,000 acres

17 California Experience San Joaquin & Sacramento San Luis Rey Each watershed ~10,000 acres

18 Tucson Infestations UA area Sabino Canyon Dr & Rillito W. Ina & Silverbell Rillito River Santa Cruz River

19 WHY NOW?

20 June 2003 Aspen Fire

21 July 2006 Debris Flows

22 Sabino Creek flow

23

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25 wwwpaztcn.wr.usgs.gov/rsch_highlight/articles/ html

26 REMOVAL STRATEGIES

27 Mechanical Control Hammer/flail mower $1700/day

28 Chemical Control Rodeo (54% Glyphosate) Cut stump (Oct) (-76%) (-99%) 100% applied to stem soon after cutting Cut spray (Sept) (-82%) (-50%var) 1.5-2% foliar application No cut - spray (-33%) Control (+21%)

29 More about Glyphosate Best applied just after flowering Toxicity: ii Rana frogs & flathead minnow (Gly) 96-hr LC 50 ~1200 mg/l Actual values after 1hr ~ 0.1 mg/l Bluegill sunfish & Rainbow trout t (R-11) 96-hr LC 50 ~4.0 mg/l Actual values after 1 hr ~.013 mg/l poses no significant toxicity hazard to non-target fish and frog species Teamarundo.org/control_manage/DFG-EPAreport.html

30 Arundo wasp Biological Control Tt Tetramesa romana lays its eggs in the cane stem, where the larva cause galls to form in the stem and kill the cane. Arundo fly Cryptonevra sp. larva kill new plant shoots. Arundo scale Rhizaspidiotus donacis feeds on the plant rhizomes. Un-intended consequences??

31 Tools of the Trade

32 EXPERIENCE IN SABINO CANYON

33 Z 5 Z 4 Areas where Arundo work was done Hill Sabino Canyon, AZ Z 3 Dam Bridge Z2 Bear Bridge Visitor Z 1 Center

34 Your mission

35 Before After

36 Before After

37 Before After During

38 Teamwork is required!

39 Cut to 10, bundle, & remove Cache stalks above high water level

40 CURRENT STATUS

41 Current Activities Finishing action plan with USFS Preparing/Buying field equipment Spreading the word groups, press Training group leaders again Sunday! Promoting our first big public days on Sunday Nov. 2 & 9, and following first Sunday each month

42 Future Activities Looking for other groups to work with around town Assess effectiveness of removal efforts

43 Student Research projects How large a rhizome is viable? Will a cut stalk regrow? Does freezing a rhizome for 4 hrs affect its viability? What percent of seeds germinate? What percent of seeds become juveniles? How effective is Rodeo?

44 Web site: Web site used to: Inform public Coordinate volunteers Share best practices Report progress Provide additional information

45

46 Thank you!

47 Approximate locations of Arundo stands Zone 4 Removed Remaining

48 Approximate locations of Arundo stands Zone 1 Removed Remaining

49 Approximate locations of Arundo stands Zone 2 Removed Remaining