Jim Washburne. UA-SAHRA-AZrivers Jan. 9, Arundo Removal Project. Washburne/Rupprecht

Transcription

1 Tucson Jim Washburne UA-SAHRA-AZrivers Jan. 9, 2009

2 Desert splendor or Desert invader?

3 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

4 THE PLANT

5 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

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

7 Arundo donax L

8 Water Use Fast growing thirsty Plant Water use Ratio [af/ac/yr] Arundo / Plant Arundo donax Tamarisk ~4 Alfalfa 5 ~4 Cottonwood 3 ~2 ~10 Mesquite Characteristics of invasive plants: Hardy, drought tolerant, rapidly re-colonize disturbed areas, spreads readily, out competes native plants

9 HOW BAD CAN IT GET?

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

11 California Experience Northern CA San Joaquin & Sacramento Southern CA San Luis Rey Each watershed ~10,000 acres

12 Tucson Experience UA area Sabino Canyon Dr & Rillito W. Ina & Silverbell Santa Cruz Rillito River

13 WHY NOW?

14 June 2003 Aspen Fire

15 July 2006 Debris Flows

16 Effects of Scouring & Debris Flows Mar Jun Pima County Map Guide:

17

18 OUR EXPERIENCE IN SABINO CANYON

19 Team leader training

20 Registration & Briefing

21 Bear Bridge Nov. 9 6 S S B Stalks Bags S R Restroom 3 B 4 S 2 Zone 1 R 1 Removed Remaining 5

22 its off to work we go

23 Tool matrix Equipment disposition Jan. 4, 2009 Group# Stalks & Roots Extra Tools a b total FOS gloves 0 hand pruners " lopper " lopper lb maddock lb maddock 0 narrow blade shovel standard blade shovel Trash hbags Twine rock bar PRIORITY Ranking

24 Field orientation getting started

25 Maintaining the flow

26 Watch out for overachievers

27 Volunteers

28 Keeping them happy

29 or watermellon

30 Clean-up

31 Other uses Pascal Yaqui Tucson Permaculture Inst. Sonoran o Kitchen Gardens

32 Impact to date People-days Hours Bags Bundles 100 (est) 558 Fun Facts $20/hr, about $12,000 of field volunteer 1 bag/6 ft 2, about 1400 ft 2 => only stalks/bundle, about 8400 stalks

33 Before After

34 Before After

35 Before After During

36 After 20 bags Before After 9 bags

37 Can t rest on our laurels

38 REMOVAL STRATEGIES

39 Tools of the Trade

40 Mechanical Control Hammer/flail mower $1700/day

41 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%)

42 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

43 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??

44 WHY IT WORKS & CURRENT STATUS

45 Collaboration / Leverage Jim Washburne, time & resources Candice Rupprecht, time & resources Josh Taiz, time & resources Jennifer Becker, coord. Sherrie Barfield, coord. & resources Mark & Jean Hengesbaugh, time 2 Phillip Bentley, $1120 tool grant Kendall Kroesen, time & coord. Pascal Yaqui

46 Why it works Compelling problem Organizational core & expertise Mutual interests Access to basic resources Strong volunteer network Public support Long-term focus Catching the problem in-time its doable!

47 Future Activities Expand efforts to Rillito wash Looking for other groups to work with around town Scouts Neighborhood groups Join forces with permaculture community Assess effectiveness of removal efforts Study growth and herbicide factors

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

49

50 Your mission

51 Cut to 10-12, bundle, & remove or Cache stalks above high water level

52 Teamwork is required!