Coming Together To Fight Arundo
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The Walnut Creek Watershed Council (WCWC) is a voluntary, non-regulatory stakeholder group that supports a healthy and sustainable Walnut Creek watershed. The council includes representatives from cities, county agencies, conservation organizations, groups that defend local creeks and individuals.
The WCWC has recognized Arundo as one of the main threats to the health of our watershed and as such have created a working group, the Arundo Removal and Replacement Team (ARRT) to battle this invasive plant. This will be a multi-year effort that involves locating and removing stands of Arundo on public and private property and, where necessary, replacing the Arundo with a suitable native plants. |
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Arundo is an INVASIVE Plant
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Arundo donax (also called giant reed or giant cane) is an invasive non-native plant that grows along creeks. It can grow four inches a day and up to a total height of thirty feet! Arundo consumes prodigious amounts of water and spreads aggressively—these qualities make it easy for Arundo to outcompete native plants for resources and space. The plant provides little food or habitat for insects, birds, and other wildlife. Arundo’s encroachment on waterways can lead to flooding, and the plant poses a fire hazard.
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Arundo is Big
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Arundo Takes Over
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Arundo Regrows
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Arundo Is In Over 250 Locations in Our Watershed
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Walnut Creek Arundo has spread all over the watershed. Using a combination of aerial imagery and creek walking, the team has found over 250 patches of Arundo in our watershed. This interactive map shows the locations we have identified so far. We believe there are many more in areas that we have been unable to inspect so far.
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Arundo Can Be Removed And Replaced
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Despite the serious threat that Arundo poses to our streams, it can be controlled. Many areas in our watershed have small or mid-sized Arundo infestations that can be eliminated now before they become huge problems. Larger infestations can be controlled, but such efforts are costly and usually require coordination among multiple stakeholders. The easiest and most economical way to control Arundo is to treat it early before it becomes well established.
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Cut the Stems
In our watershed, an effective approach is to do an initial cutting and complete removal of cut stems from the creek in early summer. The Arundo will send up new shoots so will need further treatment.
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Prevent Regrowth
New Arundo sprouts can be hand-sprayed with an approved herbicide. Treatment needs to be repeated at least annually until the infestation is gone. Each time the infestation should be smaller and the task easier.
Alternatively the corms (roots) can be dug out if they are not required to stabilize the hillside. |
Replace With Natives
Since the Arundo will have displaced most of the native plants it is wise to replace it with some new plantings of willow, sedge or other riparian natives.
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How You Can Get Involved
- Learn more about Arundo and how to identify it.
- Report sightings of Arundo to a local conservation group or agency.
- Join local eradication efforts already underway or help to start one.
- Talk to your neighbors to organize a workday or to share costs for a contractor.
- Join or start a local creek group. Four groups working in our watershed are:
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If you own land along a creek, there is a lot you can do to improve the health of your creek and the value of your property. Contact your local Friends group or the Walnut Creek Watershed Council for their advice and possible assistance
