Contra Costa Resource Conservation District

Arundo Removal And Replacement Team

Working to Remove Invasive Arundo
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Coming Together To Fight Arundo

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

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
​and Grows Fast

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Arundo can grow four inches a day and up to a total height of thirty feet!  It spreads quickly, even into thickly vegetated areas, and crowds out existing plants.

Arundo Takes Over
​The Creek

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To sustain its rapid growth, Arundo consumes prodigious amounts of water usually along streams and other waterways. It displaces native plants and provides little food or habitat for insects, birds, or other wildlife.  ​

Arundo Regrows
​and Spreads

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Arundo's root system of corms is like the rhizomes of grass in your lawn. If you cut the plant it just grows back. It spreads to new areas when sections of the stem or root break off, they float downstream to start new colonies.

Arundo Is In Over 250 Locations in Our Watershed

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.
Bigger Map
Editable map (password required)

Arundo Can Be Removed And Replaced

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

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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.

Prevent Regrowth

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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. ​
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Alternatively the corms (roots) can be dug out if they are not required to stabilize the hillside.

Replace With Natives

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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.

How You Can Get Involved

  1. Learn more about Arundo and how to identify it.
  2. Report sightings of Arundo to a local conservation group or agency.
  3. Join local eradication efforts already underway or help to start one.
  4. Talk to your neighbors to organize a workday or to share costs for a contractor.
  5. Join or start a local creek group. Four groups working in our watershed are: 
  • Friends of the Creeks (Walnut Creek) http://www.friendsofthecreeks.org 
  • Friends of San Ramon Creek https://www.ccrcd.org/fosrc.html 
  • Friends of Pleasant Hill Creeks http://www.pleasanthillcreeks.org
  • Lafayette Creeks Committee https://www.lovelafayette.org/city-hall/commissions-committees/creeks-committee
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
Download the WCWC Arundo Brochure

We Would Love to Have You Visit Us on Social Media:

HOME

Hours

M-F: 9am - 5pm
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Telephone

925-672-4577 ext. 4149

Email

info@ccrcd.org
  • Home
  • About
    • Board & Staff
    • Projects
    • Annual Report
  • Events
    • ShorelineFestival2021
    • CCCD2020
    • Digital Events
    • Hack Bay Delta
  • Agriculture
    • Agriculture News & Events
    • Healthy Soils Incentives Program
    • Healthy Soils Initiative
    • Livestock Pond Initiative
    • Illegal Dumping Cleanup and Prevention Program >
      • Illegal Dumping Resources
    • Carbon Farming
  • EcoStewards
  • Watersheds
    • Alhambra Creek Watershed >
      • Alhambra Watershed Council
      • Peyton Slough Watershed >
        • Peyton Slough Wetlands Advisory Committee
      • Friends of Alhambra Creek
    • Bay Point, Pittsburg & Antioch >
      • Agua
    • Carquinez Watershed Council
    • Pinole Creek Watershed
    • Rodeo Creek Watershed
    • Walnut Creek Watershed >
      • Arundo Removal and Replacement Team
      • Creek Invaders
  • Contact
  • Opportunities
    • RangeCamp
  • Donate Now!
  • Newsletter