Navarro Restoration Update
Submitted to Anderson Valley Land Trust's Good Dirt Spring 2002
by Patty Madigan, Navarro Watershed Coordinator Mendocino County Resource Conservation District
Biological Invasion on the Navarro!
Native to India, fodder for elephants, and prolific in Southern California and Russian River watersheds--Arundo donax, or Giant Reed, has established itself in the Navarro. This noxious weed, which looks something like bamboo and grows 35 feet high, is undesirable for several reasons.
First, it crowds out native vegetation and eventually dominates the riparian corridor; in Southern California it went from introduction to invasion in only 7 years. Second, Arundo has virtually no value for wildlife or fish and it it consumes vast amounts of water. And finally, it is serious fire hazard! Arundo can be controlled but it is very difficult to eradicate completely.
Karen Gaffney, a plant ecologist with Circuit Rider Productions, Inc. in Windsor California is an Arundo expert. Karen, a Boonville native, recently gave a workshop on invasive plants here in the Valley. Karen has been conducting research on controlling Arundo donax and has had a good measure of success without using herbicides.
To get rid of Arundo, according to Karen, you need to be extremely careful you don’t unintentionally spread it further. It propagates from short sections of the stalk--it only needs two or three nodes--so even a few inches of plant material can generate another infestation. Burning it in place is absolutely not recommended!
The Navarro Watershed Restoration Program is developing an Arundo "hotline". If you have Arundo near the creek/river on your property, The Mendocino County Resource Conservation District, with support from the State Coastal Conservancy and Department of Fish & Game, will be providing assistance to landowners by helping to identify, remove, and monitor Arundo donax. If you think Arundo has paid a visit to your property, please email Navarro Watershed Coordinator, Patty Madigan at: pmad@mcn.org. This is the perfect time to get started with removal efforts, with sunny months ahead--and before we have to bring in the elephants!
Earth Day Weekend Stewardship Project
Volunteers are needed to help control invasive plants on the Navarro River. A stewardship workday will be held on Sunday, April 21st (Earth Day Weekend) at Hendy Woods State Park Picnic Area, beginning at 12:30pm. Both Arundo donax (Giant Reed) and (Periwinkle) will be subjects of volunteer efforts and ongoing monitoring. The event is cosponsored by the Mendocino County Resource Conservation District, State Parks, and the Anderson Valley Grange. Call Patty for further information, email: pmad@mcn.org.
Robinson Creek Restoration Grant
Navarro Watershed Coordinator, Patty Madigan, recently submitted a Grant to the Department of Water Resource’s Urban Streams Restoration Program to help restore Robinson Creek where it flows through Downtown Boonville. This restoration work may include: 1) Removing garbage and old rusty metal from the creek; 2) Removing invasive, non-native vegetation and replanting with custom propagated native plants; and 3) Restoring several sections of streambank failures. Approximately 22 landowners were contacted to survey their interest and support for the project. Letters of support were also received from the Anderson Valley Grange and the Anderson Valley Land Trust.
On a reconnaissance walk-through, from the Fairgrounds to Anderson Valley High School, digital photographs recorded some interesting stream deposits: three antique washing machines; two early model cars; and riparian vegetation strewn with variegated strips of clothing. Notification regarding the project funding status is expected this Spring. Landowners will be contacted before any work begins, and consulted throughout the project.