Tucson Jim Washburne UA-SAHRA-AZrivers Jan. 9, 2009
Desert splendor or Desert invader?
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
THE PLANT
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
Historical Range Mediterranean Nile, Coastal areas Tigris & Euphrates Marsh lands India Himalayan foothills plantsforuse.com
Arundo donax L
Water Use Fast growing thirsty Plant Water use Ratio [af/ac/yr] Arundo / Plant Arundo donax 1 20 1 Tamarisk 2 4-6 ~4 Alfalfa 5 ~4 Cottonwood 3 ~2 ~10 Mesquite 4 1-4 5-20 Characteristics of invasive plants: Hardy, drought tolerant, rapidly re-colonize disturbed areas, spreads readily, out competes native plants
HOW BAD CAN IT GET?
Southwestern & MX Infestations Rio Grande Big Bend to Del Rio ~60,000 acres Texas? Cuatro Cienegas ~275 acres Lower Colo.River ~5,000 acres
California Experience Northern CA San Joaquin & Sacramento Southern CA San Luis Rey Each watershed ~10,000 acres
Tucson Experience UA area Sabino Canyon Dr & Rillito W. Ina & Silverbell Santa Cruz Rillito River
WHY NOW?
June 2003 Aspen Fire
July 2006 Debris Flows
Effects of Scouring & Debris Flows Mar. 2006 Jun. 2007 Pima County Map Guide: www.dot.pima.gov/gis/maps/mapguide
2006 2008
OUR EXPERIENCE IN SABINO CANYON
Team leader training
Registration & Briefing
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
its off to work we go
Tool matrix Equipment disposition Jan. 4, 2009 Group# Stalks & Roots Extra Tools 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 a b total FOS gloves 0 hand pruners 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 6 2" lopper 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 15 15 3" lopper 1 1 1 1 1 5 5 2.5 lb maddock 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 13 13 5 lb maddock 0 narrow blade shovel 1 1 2 2 standard blade shovel 1 1 1 1 4 4 Trash hbags 4 0 14 11 12 9 18 68 Twine 10 20 23 18 0 7 20 98 rock bar 1 1 2 PRIORITY Ranking 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Field orientation getting started
Maintaining the flow
Watch out for overachievers
Volunteers
Keeping them happy
or watermellon
Clean-up
Other uses Pascal Yaqui Tucson Permaculture Inst. Sonoran o Kitchen Gardens
Impact to date 2007-2008 2008-2009 People-days 54 152 Hours (@4hr/da) 216 608 Bags 79 238 Bundles 100 (est) 558 Fun Facts (2008-2009) @ $20/hr, about $12,000 of field volunteer time @ 1 bag/6 ft 2, about 1400 ft 2 => only 38 x38!! @ 15 stalks/bundle, about 8400 stalks
Before After
Before After
Before After During
After 20 bags Before After 9 bags
Can t rest on our laurels
REMOVAL STRATEGIES
Tools of the Trade
Mechanical Control Hammer/flail mower $1700/day
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%)
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
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?? www.homelandsecurity.org/journal/default.aspx?oid=154&ocat=1
WHY IT WORKS & CURRENT STATUS
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
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!
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
Web site:www.sahra.arizona.edu/education2/arundo Web site used to: Inform public Coordinate volunteers Share best practices Report progress Provide additional information
www.sahra.arizona.edu/education2/arundo
Your mission
Cut to 10-12, bundle, & remove or Cache stalks above high water level
Teamwork is required!