Water Resource Collections and Archives

Suisun Creek: Arundo Donax Eradication

Organization: California Land Stewardship Institute
2006 Grant Recipients - Napa County

Purpose

This grant funded eradication of invasive non-native Arundo donax or giant reed on 2 acres of riparian corridor along Suisun Creek in Napa County. Matching funds provided for an additional 4.5 acres of eradication for a total of 6.5 acres. Arundo is a 25 ft. tall grass, which outcompetes native trees, provides little to no shade canopy to the creek and no wildlife habitat. Suisun Creek is an important stream for spawning and rearing of threatened steelhead trout. Each Arundo clump was treated with herbicide at least 3 times and often up to 6 times prior to complete eradication. All the clumps were on private land and landowners were very cooperative. Following eradication native riparian trees were installed and landowners provided irrigation for these trees.

Update 2012

This grant allowed us to gain additional sources of funds and eradication and revegetation work is continuing on the downstream 9 miles of Suisun Creek.

Documents

• Suisun Creek Watershed Program Arundo Mapping, Eradication and Control Strategy. California Land Stewardship Institute and California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. March 2006. (11 pp.)
  
  The Arundo Project Strategy Suisun Creek includes background information about this pest plant, eradication methods and maps of its extent on Suisun Creek.

Primary Contact for this Project

Laurel Marcus
Executive Director
California Land Stewardship Institute
550 Gateway Drive #108
Napa, California 94558
Phone: 707-253-1226
Fax: 707-253-1708
Email: LaurelM@FishFriendlyFarming.org
Website: www.FishFriendlyFarming.org