mainland

Channel Islands Restoration
A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
P.O. Box 91414 Santa Barbara, CA 93190
(805) 448-5726

Email: Islands@rain.org

Carpinteria Creek Arundo Removal Project

TOP

Working with the County of Santa Barbara, Channel Islands restoration is supervising the removal of giant reed (Arundo donax) from a two-mile stretch of Carpinteria Creek. Since 2005, CIR has removed 42 tons of Arundo from the creek.

Carpinteria Creek offers great potential for steelhead trout recovery. Unlike many other South Coast streams, its channel still runs freely under open spans (rather than through culverts). The upper reaches of the creek contain great fish habitat, and water flows year round through the urban reach of the creek. Along much of the creek, there is a tall native tree canopy that maintains the cool water that steelhead require. Because of these features, Carpinteria Creek may offer the best opportunity among all the urban streams in southern Santa Barbara County for restoring significant steelhead runs in the next few years.

The creek is under threat from non-native, invasive plants like Arundo donax. Arundo is an extremely fast-growing plant resembling bamboo. It can grow four inches a day, and up to 30 feet tall. It prefers moist conditions, and usually grows along streams and ditches. Today Arundo is aggressively invading our streams. It spreads quickly, even into thickly vegetated areas, and crowds out native plants.

Arundo affects riparian systems by growing aggressively into monocultural stands, displacing entirely the native riparian vegetation. Arundo chokes stream channels and creates debris dams that cause increased bank erosion and clogging of road culverts, impeding fish travel during storm flows. The high, straight stalks of Arundo provide little shade to the creek environment, while consuming large amounts of water compared to native plant species. Arundo has little or no value as food for local wildlife, or as nesting/roosting sites.

Visit the Carpinteria Creek Coalition web page for more information on the creek and the restoration project.



CIR personnel and CCC crew working at Carpinteria Creek. Top row shows the extent of the Arundo infestation. Bottom view shows removal methods. All photos by Ken Owen.

Large stand of Arundo donax by the mouth of Carpinteria Creek (at Carpinteria State Beach).

First phase of Arundo removal. Notice remaining stand in background
(and to the left of the palm tree) and the stand at right by the bridge.

After removal.

Refugio Creek Arundo removal Project
TOP

Starting the in the fall of 2006, Channel Islands Restoration began removing Arundo donax from the bottom portion of Refugio Creek west of the City of Goleta in Santa Barbara County. CIR is working in cooperation with the following agencies on this restoration project: The Land Trust of Santa Barbara County, the Cachuma Resource Conservation District and the Santa Barbara County Flood Control District. CIR contracted with a crew from Kitson Landscaping to assist with this project.

The project involves:

Removing at least 100 separate patches, on 4 acres, of Arundo donax, as well as several smaller areas of other invasive plant species detrimental to the wildlife ecology of Refugio Creek.
Stabilizing the creek bank on over one mile of Refugio Creek to reduce the chances of large-scale bank failure, future sediment deposition into the creek, and bank-cutting that undermines riparian vegetation and habitat values and threatens high-quality orchard land.
Re-establishing native riparian habitat on 17,000 square feet along the creek corridor by planting more than 3000 trees, shrubs and herbaceous annuals. These plantings will stabilize the creek banks, create shade to cool and conserve water in the creek, and provide better habitat for a wide array of local wildlife.
Conducting three years of post-installation monitoring, re-treatment and replacement planting to ensure a successful outcome.
Demonstrating a model for collaboration among private agricultural landowners, government agencies and non-governmental organizations to address watershed enhancement on the Gaviota Coast.

Follow this link for:
Photos of the Arundo removal and replanting work,
plus more details of the Lower Refugio Creek Project

Coal Oil Point Reserve Invasive Tree and Plant Removal

CIR has a long association with the Coal Oil Point Reserve on the Goleta Coast. Part of the University of California Natural Reserve System, Coal Oil Point Reserve is administered by the University of California. CIR has conducted several important invasive tree removal projects on the reserve. In 2007, CIR has been supervising a major invasive tree and shrub removal project on the reserve.

A panorama of the Dunes behind Sands Beach at Coal Oil Point Reserve.


Myoporum and Tamarisk trees in the dune area before and after removal.


Tamarisk trees in the dune area before and after removal.

McGrath/North Shore
TOP

CIR is working with LFR Inc. to restore habitat near McGrath State Beach in Oxnard. The project includes wetland creation/dune enhancement and projection of the Ventura marsh milk-vetch (Astragalus pycnostachyus var. lanosissimus ) on two parcels, totaling nearly 30 acres.



CIR Personnel lay down matting to prevent erosion on dunes (top left). Crews from the California Conservation Corps work under the direction of CIR to remove iceplant (top right and bottom).

Lookout Park Arundo Removal
TOP

CIR is working with the County of Santa Barbara Agricultural Commissioner's office to remove Arundo donax and plant coastal sage-scrub species at Lookout Park in Summerland. Arundo was removed in 2008, and planting will begin in November 2009.



A panorama of the Arundo stand at Lookout Park (above). Crews use chainsaws to remove Arundo from a hillside (lower left). CIR personnel use a bobcat to haul removed Arundo (lower right).

Santa Clara River Arundo Removal Project
TOP

Channel Islands Restoration has worked with the The Nature Conservancy to remove Arundo in three locations on the Santa Clara River.


Volunteers preparing Arundo for spraying in the Santa Clara River (left). CIR worker in "sea" of Arundo donax (right).

Gaviota Coast Artichoke Thistle Removal
TOP

CIR is working with the County of Santa Barbara Agricultural Commissioner's office to treat artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus) on the Gaviota Coast. Artichoke thistle is a difficult to remove invasive weed that is very destructive to native habitat.


CIR personnel spray artichoke thistle on the Gaviota Coast.

Arroyo Hondo Preserve Invasive Tree
and Invasive Plant Removal
TOP

CIR has performed several invasive plant removal projects for the Land Trust of Santa Barbara County on their Arroyo Hondo Preserve on the Gaviota Coast. This work has primarily involved removal of invasive trees and onion weed (Asphodelus fistulosus).

Elings Park Pampas Grass Removal
TOP

CIR has treated Pampas grass in Elings Park in Santa Barbara. Much of this work has occurred in very rugged terrain, and the plants were growing directly with native coastal sage scrub plants.

Arroyo Burro Creek Arundo Removal
TOP

CIR has treated Arundo donax in Hidden Valley Park along the Arroyo Burro Creek in Santa Barbara.

San Roque Creek Arundo Removal
TOP

CIR has treated Arundo donax along San Roque Creek in Santa Barbara.

Parma Park Onion Weed Removal
TOP

CIR is working with the City of Santa Barbara to treat onion weed (Asphodelus fistulosus) in Parma Park in the Santa Barbara foothills.

Lake Los Carneros
TOP

CIR has received funding from the Goleta Valley Land Trust to remove invasive plants and plant native species at Lake Los Carneros in Goleta. CIR will be organizing a volunteer program to help perform the work. The project is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2009.

Digard Nursery
TOP

CIR has treated Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) at the Digard Nursery and several other locations in western Goleta.

Mission Canyon Arundo Removal
TOP

CIR has treated Arundo donax in rugged terrain in Mission Canyon.

Montecito Arundo Removal
TOP

CIR is working with the Montecito Fire Department to remove Arundo donax from various locations along creeks in Montecito.