Arundo donax in California's Central Coast Region

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Figure 1: Arundo donax (giant reed). Photo courtesy Joseph DiTomaso [1].

An environmental summary created by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.

Arundo donax: Invasive Plant

Giant reed (Arundo donax) is a perrenial invasive grass native to Eastern Asia. It is a persistent rhizomatous grass with high biomass production that was introduced to other continents by humans, for building material since many years [2]. This grass can reach up to 20 feet tall in height when healthy, with long, flat, and green leaves. It is considered an ecological threat since it spreads when its rhizomes come in contact with soil within wetlands. This grass spreads along riparian zones and lake shores, and competes with native vegetation for sunlight, water, and nutrients [3].

Arundo donax in the Central Coast

Figure 2: Encroachment of Arundo donax along Salinas River. Map by DENDRA Inc. [4].

Arundo has been spreading through Central California watersheds, and exacerbating flood prone areas [5]. Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties, as well as the San Francisco Bay Area, and Sacramento and San Joaquin River valleys have been impacted with proliferating stands of Arundo [1]. The dense stalks of Arundo change direction of water flow, change the force of the river, and increase flood risk. The thick stalks of Arundo can deflect the natural flow of the river into farmland and private properties. [6]. Salinas River has a long history of floods dating back to 1911, with the most recent flooding forecasted in February of 2017, after heavy rains [7]. With high precipitation rates in the area in the winter, proliferating Arundo stalks are further exacerbating flood risks in this region.

Resource Conservation Districts: RCD Monterey County

The two groups that are addressing this encroachment of Arundo in the Central Coast region are the Resource Conservation District, Monterey Bay (RCDMC), and the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA). RCDMC is one of the special districts in California, designated to implement and monitor resource conservation projects across private and public land [8]

Arundo acreage in central California by hydrologic unit according to 2011 Distribution and Impact Report [9].
Hydrological Unit Total Area (Acres) Treated Arundo (Acres) Untreated Arundo Total Arundo Percent Treated
Salinas 2,272,492 106.4 1,225.3 1,331.7 8%

RCDMC Arundo Control Program

why it started two step process of pesticide and burning before and after google earth images

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 / CALIPC (California Invasive Plant Council). Arundo donax. Cal-IPC.
  2. / Pilu R, Bucci F, Badone FC, Landoni M. 2012. Giant reed (Arundo donax L.): A weed plant or a promising energy crop? African Journal of Biotechnology 11(38) 9163-9174.
  3. / Swearingen J, Bargeron C. 2016. Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
  4. / RCDMC (Resource Conservation District of Monterey County). Salinas River Arundo and Tamarisk Control. Salinas River Watershed Arundo Control Program.
  5. / Wessel, Lindzi. 2016. Arundo: The invasive 'hair clog' of the Salinas River. The Californian..
  6. / Spencer DF, Colby L, Norris GR. 2013. An evaluation of flooding risks associated with giant reed (Arundo donax). Journal of Freshwater Ecology 28(3) 397-409.
  7. / Wright, T. 2017. Forecast calls for flooding on Salinas River this weekend. Santa Cruz Sentinel Weather.
  8. / RCD (Resource Conservation District). 2017. Resource Conservation District Assistance. State of California Department of Conservation.
  9. / CALIPC (California Invasive Plant Council). 2011. Arundo donax Distribution and Impact Report. State Water Resources Control Board.

Disclaimer

This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.