SONGS OF THE STREAMS

As the autumnal winds fall silent upon willow-decorated creeks, the profound sound of water cuts through the streambeds and fills the tranquil air. Quail frolic amongst yellow painted alluvium, where the pungent scent of late season asters anchor the ecosystem until rain. It is this time of year, when birds have flown their artistically crafted nests, that we sharpen our tools and charge into the battlefields of giant reed. The thrill of watching stands of invasive Arundo (Arundo donax) topple down, revealing lush vegetation hidden beneath, is a view rewarding as any. 

Commonly called giant reed or elephant grass for its towering height, Arundo is a noxious invasive species that threatens our natural resources, local ecosystems, and community. OVLC has worked for over a decade to remove Arundo from our preserves, and we’ve recently ramped up our efforts to finish the job. 

This fall, we’ve been hard at work removing over 10 acres of Arundo from San Antonio Creek and in the mainstem of the Ventura River, with plans to tackle another five acres on Lion Creek this winter. Diligent work in the floodplain over the years has encouraged a braided profile, rather than one that is incised, channelized, and disconnected hydrologically. One of our favorite methods to increase shading, floodplain connectivity, and promote succession within the newly open riverbank is to live stake mulefat (Baccharis salicifolia). This member in the Asteraceae grows quickly, stabilizes the soil, provides great bird habitat, and flowers late in the season. Underneath the canopy of mulefat, our team documented a wide diversity of herbaceous plants following two years of intensive giant reed removal. Some of our favorites include hoary bowlesia (Bowlesia incana), large flowered phacelia (Phacelia grandiflora), witchgrass (Panicum capillare), and fiesta flower (Pholistoma auritum). Variance in canopy cover and channel height facilitates habitat for amphibians such as red-legged frogs (Rana draytonii), which we found hiding in quiet water within our restoration site. 

Arundo threatens our water supply, creates flood hazards, accelerates erosion, crowds out native vegetation, and creates a dangerous fire risk. However, healthy rivers are resilient, especially if we give nature some help. This is why OVLC is leading a community effort to remove invasive Arundo, restore important habitats, reconnect with nature, and rewild our river. 

We hope you’ll pass by one of our sites and be inspired by the resurgence of the river without the choke of Arundo, knowing that there is an amazing diversity of native species already starting to take its place. 

Martin Schenker, Restoration Field Crew Manager