Arundo donax:  A destructive invasive plant
Arundo donax (giant reed or giant cane) is a highly invasive exotic grass native to Asia. It has rapidly invaded many river systems in California.

Arundo grows to heights of over forty feet and forms dense monocultures up to several acres in size. It uses large amounts of water, threatens structures, and facilitates fires.

While advanced infestations along Southern CA rivers are costing millions to address, eradication of Arundo in northern watersheds is feasible and cost effective if undertaken now.

Arundo Removal and Riparian Habitat Restoration: A Watershed Approach
In 1992, Circuit Rider Productions (CRP) began mapping the infestations of Arundo in the Russian River watershed.  CRP documented over 300 acres of this invasive plant distributed throughout the main stem and over forty tributaries.

Arundo can be successfully removed by starting at the top of the watershed and conducting removal in a downstream direction, because it reproduces rapidly from fragments that are broken off in storm events and does not produce viable seed.

 
CRP staff deploy several techniques in removing Arundo, including non-toxic options such as tarping and hand removal.  The California Conservation Corps is also assisting with the removal.

Once the Arundo has been eradicated, CRP restores the riparian area with native plants, propagated in its own nursery from source material collected  at each site.  Additional efforts, such as willow sprigging or grass seeding,  are also taken to mitigate erosion.

Although originially introduced as an erosion control measure, Arundo actually causes serious degradation of streamside habitats and bank destabilization.

Community Partnerships
Sotoyome Resource Conservation District, Mendocino County Resource Conservation District, and CRP work collaboratively with landowners to remove Arundo and restore riparian habitat. 

As over 97% of the Russian River watershed is under private ownership,  landowner participation is an essential component of the project.  Each site includes a customized restoration plan including Arundo removal techniques and revegetation details.  These plans are developed with landowner oversight and approval. Many landowners match the project grant funds in a number of ways including helping in the invasive plant removal, building a temporary irrigation system for the revegetation phase, and helping with long-term maintenance of their project.