INVASIVE SPECIES ERADICATION

Staff and volunteers of the Kern River Preserve have spent over a decade fighting invasive species. These efforts have paid off with one of the most native forests in western North America.

Each year staff of the Kern River Preserve and the California Department of Fish & Game spend thousands of hours eradicating invasive weeds from Sprague Ranch and South Fork Valley lands.

Each of us can help prevent the spread of invasive plants and animals. You can help by learning which species can become invasive and eradicate these from your own yards. Help to educate your local nurseries about the problem with invasives and get them to stop selling problem plants. Contact your legislator and local agriculture commissioner to make sure no invasives are sold or promoted in your county or town.

The article that follows is a tutorial on giant cane: one of a series of articles staff of the Kern River Preserve are preparing to educate about local invasives and some steps each of us can take to help eradicate them.

GIANT CANE (Arundo donax)

Arundo donax was introduced from the Mediterranean region of Europe to California in the 1820's for roofing material and erosion control. Additional plantings as an ornamental throughout the country have caused it to become naturalized along North America's fresh waterways.

Giant cane is in the grass family and can grow to 20 feet tall. While it superficially resembles bamboo, its stalks rarely exceed 1 inch in diameter. The pale green leaves are 1-2 inches wide.

This plant is very invasive. It displaces native vegetation and wildlife and is highly flammable so should be removed as soon as it is found. When fires happen, giant cane acts as a "ladder" with tall flames that spread to vegetation and buildings.

Spreading by its rhizomatous roots rather than from seed, giant reed is not easy to remove or control once established. One method of control is to smother it with a tarp. Cut and remove all stems, then cover the entire area with a heavy, light excluding tarp throughout the entire year. This works by not allowing the plant to photosynthesize. Another method is to cut down tall mature plants and remove stalks. When emerging giant reed shoots reach 2-4 feet in height (shoots can grow as much as a foot a week) apply the herbicide, glyphosate, to the leaves. Depending on conditions in each area, more than one application may be necessary.

Ecologists have determined that the cut, regrow and spray technique is a cost-effective method to control and eventually eradicate giant reed. §