2019 Arundo Removal and Replacement Team Monitoring Report

The Restoration Trust in association with Friends of the Creeks, Friends of San Ramon Creeks, Lafayette Creeks Committee, and Fiends of Pleasant Hill Creeks released their 2019 monitoring report for the 2019 Arundo Removal and Replacement projects.

In the fall of 2019, the Walnut Creek Watershed and its Arundo Removal and Replacement Team (ARRT) worked with the Restoration Trust and local creek groups to remove giant reed (Arundo donax also referred to as Arundo) and other invasive plants from creek banks in Walnut Creek (City of Walnut Creek), Lafayette Creek (City of Lafayette), Grayson Creek (City of Pleasant Hill), and San Ramon Creek (City of Danville). Shortly after invasive and other non-native plant removal, each of the four sites was planted with plugs of the native creeping wild rye (Leymus triticoides) and valley sedge (Carex barbarae). Both species are rhizomatous perennials, and previous plantings have demonstrated that these species exclude non-native species over time, as well as provide native wildlife habitat, erosion control, fire suppression, and other values.

The monitoring report can be viewed here.

The San Ramon Creek restoration site in June 2018 before restoration work. Note the large Arundo stand at the site center.

The San Ramon Creek restoration site in December 2019, following clearance of arundo and other invasive plants.