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Coming Soon to a Creek Near You

"Team Arundo" is the action-oriented name of a new group of government managers, scientists and environmentalists now hatching a game plan to thwart the "the plant from hell." Also known as the giant reed and Arundo donax, this plant is an introduced, prolific pest threatening to destroy the Estuary's native riparian ecosystems. The reed was originally introduced into California by the Spanish in the late 1800s for erosion control along drainage canals. But the reed escaped from the canals into nearby waterways, where it began to wreak the havoc that has earned it the nickname "plant from hell."

Today the reed is sometimes planted by unknowing gardeners and sold by nurseries unaware of the damage it causes. Although southern California waterways like the Santa Ana River were the first to be invaded by Arundo, the giant reed can now be found almost everywhere in the state, according to U.S. EPA's Paul Jones. Locally it has invaded the Russian River, Napa River, Sonoma Creek, and San Pedro Creek in Pacifica, to name just a few worry spots.

The reed spreads as pieces of the plant break off and wash downstream. The pieces-from either the stalk or roots-establish themselves wherever they are deposited. Their towering stalks and large tenacious root systems then proceed to take over, outcompeting native riparian plants. The reed loves water and can grow up to three inches in one day, quickly reaching heights of 25 feet. It guzzles three times the water of the native plants and in effect "steals" water that could help recharge groundwater.Unlike native plants, Arundo does not offer habitat or food for wildlife - a serious problem since so many of California's endangered and threatened species (particularly birds) rely on our few remaining riparian zones for survival. Arundo also affects aquatic critters by failing to offer any shade-as native willows and other plants do-which keeps water temperatures cool and water quality healthy.

To plan its counter-attack against the invader, Team Arundo del Norte (the northern arm of a statewide effort) has begun holding regular meetings. One big challenge is to decide exactly how to eradicate it, as the reed is difficult to remove by hand or machine. Currently, the most successful weapon seems to be an herbicide that, despite being the only product approved by the EPA for use in aquatic habitats, has some potentially negative environmental impacts. Team Arundo is now working with scientists at U.C. Berkeley and the S.F. Estuary Institute to come up with better eradication methods and plans to contact local watershed groups for help in educating the public, elected officials, and nurseries about the "plant from hell."

Contact: Paul Jones (415)744-1976

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