Team Leader Training for Giant Reed Removal

The U.S. Forest Service is planning a major effort to control Giant Reed Grass (Arundo donax) in Sabino Canyon Recreation Area this fall. The stands of Giant Reed Grass, frequently mistaken for bamboo, are those towering 20-foot-tall canes that are quickly spreading up and down the creek bed. Giant Reed Grass is an invasive plant from Eurasia and one of the fast-growing land plants in the world. It is crowding out Sabino Creek’s native plants, displacing the food and shelter native wildlife need. It is also altering the stream flow and damaging habitat for native aquatic animals.

For the Forest Service plan to be successful, we must recruit a small army of sturdy volunteers. First, we need to recruit and train team leaders. These team leader volunteers will learn how to cut and bundle the Giant Reed canes and dig out their horizontal roots, called rhizomes, from the sandy soil. Later, team leaders will train and supervise groups of 4-7 volunteers working on two successive Sunday mornings, November 2 and 9, 2008.

TEAM LEADER TRAINING FOR GIANT REED REMOVAL

WHEN: Sunday morning, 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m., either Oct. 19 or Oct. 26 (your choice),

WHERE: Meet at Sabino Canyon Recreation Area Visitor Center

WHAT: Volunteers for the team leader training will need to be able to handle hand tools—which will be provided—to cut Giant Reed canes and dig out roots. The training will include safety briefing and information about weeds. Most of the time will be spent removing small stands of Giant Reed in Sabino Canyon creek bed.

WEAR: Sturdy boots, hat, work gloves if you have them. Bring water.

Twenty team leaders are needed; sign-up deadline for training is Oct. 10.

Part of the U.S. Forest Service plan is to apply a wetlands-approved herbicide to the large stands of Giant Reed that volunteers cut, but that are too extensive to dig out. The herbicide will be applied directly to cut stumps by certified professionals and will be done after volunteers have finished. Ongoing Giant Reed removal by trained volunteers will be a monthly event.

For more information check out this website: http://www.sahra.arizona.edu/education2/arundo/

If you would like to sign up as a team leader, please contact: Mark or Jean Hengesbaugh, or , 520.664.4787.