Transcript Dry Creek Sesbania Management Program 2008

Dry Creek Red Sesbania
Management Program
2004-2010
Administered by Placer RCD
By Lizette Longacre
Natural Resource Manager
Red Sesbania (Sesbania punicea)
Facts
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AKA: rattlebush, scarlet
wisteria,
Native to South America
Introduced as an
ornamental
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High seed production
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Grows/matures fast
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Seeds toxic to poultry,
cattle, sheep, goats and
humans
“Q” Listed by Ca Dept. of
Food and Agriculture
Initial Treatment and Funding
(2004-2006)
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Project Funding -
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Project Oversight –Management Advisory
Proposition 13 Flood
Protection Corridor Program Grant - provided by the CA
DWR
Team: Sacramento and Placer County, City of Sacramento
and City of Roseville, SAFCA, Placer County Agricultural
Commissioner, California Dept. of Fish and Game, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, and NOAA Fisheries
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Project Management – SAFCA and May &
Associates, Inc. provided hands-on project management
Project Objectives
Improve floodwater conveyance
 Aid the restoration of natural processes
 Contribute to a statewide effort to control
red sesbania
 Eliminate a large key source population of
red sesbania
 Restore recreational and habitat values
along Dry Creek.
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Baseline Red Sesbania Mapping
Approximately 26 linear miles (14 acres) of Red
Sesbania were mapped within the 100-square
mile watershed boundary
Before Removal (2004)
Photographs courtesy of Restoration Resources
Initial Removal (2004/2005)
Photographs courtesy of Restoration Resources
2004-2006 Activities
Red Sesbania in the Lower Watershed
AFTER
BEFORE
Photographs courtesy of May and Associates
Maintenance Program
(2007-2011)
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Project Management – Placer RCD
administrating program
– SAFCA providing technical support
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Success Criterion: less than 1%
remaining in treatment area
Maintenance Funding
Stimulus (2010-2011)
City of Sacramento, Parks (2007-2011)
County of Sacramento, DWR (2007-2011)
Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (2007-2011)
Water Forum (2007-2011)
Placer County Planning Dept. - CALFED (2008-2010)
Ducks Unlimited (2009)
CDFA, Placer Co. WMA grant (2008-2009)
County of Placer (2007-2009)
City of Roseville (2007-2008)
County of Sacramento, Parks (2008)
2007-2010 Management Highlights
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Crew of ~13 people
Two treatments between June and Oct.- hand
removal or application of Aquamaster
Collect lawn-sized bags of seed pods
Photographs courtesy of Agri-Chemical
Results
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Contractor met performance criterion by
removing 99% of red sesbania from Dry Creek
Watershed
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All seed pods removed from watershed
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Increased effort in high water years
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2010 - reduced amount of
herbicide but no decrease
in removal effort to date
No of seedlings/year still
high, especially in lower
watershed
Statewide Efforts
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Dry Creek data added to statewide RS mapping
effort in 2010
Dry Creek watershed identified as heaviest
infestation area in state
Other areas of infestation:
– Churn Creek – Shasta County
– Oroville area- downstream into Feather River
– San Joaquin River - Fresno County
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Sacramento/Placer Dry Creek project - largest
regional management effort in state
Lessons Learned
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Weed control is a long-term
objective; the project should be long
term too!
Red sesbania can germinate, grow to 6
feet tall and produce flowers/seeds within
6 weeks Re-treatments are a MUST!
Don’t start something you can’t finish
Lessons Learned (Continued)
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Maximize your funds with efficient
use of paid staff partnered with
volunteers
Partner- Look for other programs that
can maximize your program
Line out your grants so there is no gap
in funding
Lessons Learned (Continued)
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Don’t forget the permits
(allow 3-6 months minimum for permit
processing time).
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Restoration (passive or active)
following weed control is important.
Keep up to date on similar projects and
effectiveness of various techniques.
Lessons Learned (Continued)
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Document your progress – a picture is worth a
thousand words!
Record your successes and failures in project
notes.
NEVER GIVE UP!!!
Next Steps
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Confirm upper watershed infestations
–biologist to map identified sites
–seek to have Ag Commissioner’s field crew spot treat
identified sites
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Engage contractor to treat watershed following
prior years’ protocol – two sweeps
Distribute postcards to adjacent property owners
Recruit additional funding commitments from
partners – new/old