Invasive plant management is an essential pillar of restoration. Without the removal of noxious weeds, creating space for diverse flora and fauna is impossible. There are many methods of managing invasive plants, all of which OVLC has utilized according to the nuances of each plant and the condition of the site. This year, OVLC is expanding its treatment efforts at the Ojai Meadows Preserve to address three invasive species: Russian knapweed (Rhaponticum repens), bristly ox tongue (Helminthotheca echioides), and Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon).

Ojai, CA 5/12/2026 – The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) is collaborating on an ecological restoration research project aimed at assessing the effectiveness of prescribed burning and broadcast seeding in restoring native species richness and cover, reducing the density of invasive species, and maintaining a healthy ecosystem. The project will also evaluate the impact of prescribed burns on specific target species and investigate the long-term effects of consecutive burns and seeding.

Ojai Valley residents have done an admirable job in planting drought-tolerant gardens to save one of our most precious resources, water. OVLC’s Rewild Ojai Program began as an idea to enhance those laudable efforts by bringing native habitat restoration into private yards to advance meaningful biodiversity goals while still saving water…