Buffelgrass
Information Center
Last Updated: March 3, 2008
Buffelgrass Eradication Day was a great success. From across the region, more than 200 volunteers worked to remove buffelgrass during Buffelgrass Eradication Day! Many thanks to everyone who volunteered to lend a hand. The effort was truly regional in scope with buffelgrass removal occurring in Marana, Oro Valley, the City of Tucson, Tucson Mountain Park, Saguaro National Park East, Agua Caliente Hill, Sabino Canyon, Pantano and Irvington, Santa Rita Experimental Range and a number of local neighborhoods. The effort definitely achieved its goal of raising awareness and probably also achieved a record amount of buffelgrass removal in a single day.
On Sunday, another group led by the Sierra Club worked in the Ironwood National Monument. I'll post details when I get them. See the In the News page for links to KVOA's coverage.
Tomorrow, Friday, February 29, Interview with Dennis Dickerson on KUAZ Radio at 9:30 am and repeated at 6:00pm
http://www.kvoa.com/
Interview on News 4 at 4 KVOA TV with Dennis Dickerson
(click on News 4 at 4:00 then scroll to the Buffelgrass video)
Buffelgrass Proclamation issued by City of Tucson Mayor Robert Walkup.
National Parks Conservation
Association podcast on buffelgrass
Park Stories: Great Grass of Fire
Imported from Africa seventy years ago to fight erosion, the buffelgrass plant
is now spreading throughout Saguaro National Park and the hillside communities
of Tucson, Arizona, bringing with it the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Host
Jim Williams takes us to Saguaro National Park to meet some of the volunteers
that are pulling the grasses like mad, and the scientists that are keeping
close watch on this fire fight.
http://media.libsyn.com/media/npca/ParkStoriesSaguaroGrassFINAL.mp3
or
http://www.npca.org/media_center/podcasts/
For November activities, check out this link: http://homepage.mac.com/mfhanson/weedwackers/PhotoAlbum125.html A group of 54 Weedwackers cleaned out a good portion of the wash, working for three hours and filling 124 bags. They did a spectacular job!
News Article
INVASIVE GRASS THREATENS HOMES, PEOPLE AS WELL AS NATIVE PLANTS
*Park in the administrative parking lot (1st right after entering the park, follow the road a short distance to the circular lot in front of a small "house"). Please wear long pants, sturdy shoes, sun protection and gloves if you have them. We will provide all the necessary tools, including gloves for those who do not have them.
Rincon Weed Pulls and Planting December 1, 2007
Rincon Institute is looking for volunteers to help restore native vegetation along Rincon Creek. Next event is Saturday, December 1st. Meet at 9 am at the Academy Village community center, 13701 E. Old Spanish Trail. For more infromation, contact Maggie Drechsler at 609-1080.
Help wanted in war against buffelgrass Tucson Citizen, November 26, 2007
Sonoran Desert Weedwackers will again meet on Saturday, November 17. The group will be working on Trail’s End wash just north of Trail’s End Road. I t is always a good idea to wear boots. You get to sleep in an extra hour as we start at 8:00am in November and will be done by about 11:00am. The weather is perfect for removing invasive fountain grass from the wash.
Weedwackers meet at the Caretaker's House across the road from the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum on Kinney Road. They will meet at 8:00am. Parking is available at the Caretaker’s House. Gloves and digging bars will be provided, but remember to bring sunscreen, water and snacks. Munchies are always appreciated for snacking after the digging and bagging.
Last month, a group of 45 Weedwackers cleaned out a good portion of the wash, working for three hours and filling 93 bags. They did a spectacular job!! For last month’s activities, check out this link: http://homepage.mac.com/mfhanson/weedwackers/PhotoAlbum121.html
Pima Association of Governments adopts Resolution Declaring Saturday, March 1, 2008 as 'Buffelgrass Eradication Day.'
On October 25, 2007, the Pima Association of Government's (PAG) Regional Council adopted a resolution declaring Saturday, March 1, 2008 as 'Buffelgrass Eradication Day." This event will be coordinated by PAG and the goal is to motivate hundreds of volunteers to engage in a county-wide effort to remove buffelgrass on a single day.
The challenge that buffelgrass poses is unique and serious. This invasive, non-native plant has the potential to change our local ecology in dramatic ways. The word 'infestation' best characterizes the nature of this challenge. It is going to be a long-term challenge and groups like Weedwhackers are on the right track. The problem is the scale of the challenge - we need to motivate many more individuals to get involved. Buffelgrass Eradication Day is intended to draw many more groups into the fight and to create an enhanced community awareness.
A page on this website will be established to highlight the event and to identify specific areas for volunteer activity. Look for it right after the holidays, if not sooner!
Buffelgrass Threatens Desert, Arizona Daily Star, July 12, 2007
Fire Restrictions In Effect, Vail Sun, July 12, 2007
Buffelgrass fuel loads in Saguaro National Park, Arizona, increase fire danger and threaten native species, Park Science, Winter 2007-2007
New article on Buffelgrass. Invasive grass deemed fire danger, Vail Sun, June 28, 2007
KVOA report on Rural Metro Fire sending postcards to warn residents of bufflegrass danger.
Rural Metro postcards warn of Buffelgrass dangers
Overgrown buffelgrass in one area alarms fire officials, Arizona Daily Star, May 22, 2007
KMSB-TV (FOX 11) in Tucson ran a report on the buffelgrass fire danger advisory issued by SWCC. The report aired on Sunday, May 6. The link to see the video follows
http://www.fox11az.com/video/newsvideo-index.html?nvid=141541&shu=1
KGUN 9 TV in Tucson ran a report on the buffelgrass fire danger advisory issued by SWCC. The report aired on Friday, April 27. The link to see the video follows
http://www.kgun9.com/NewsArticle/tabid/1112/xmid/11260/Default.aspx
April 26, 2007
Buffelgrass fire alert posted by SWCC. The Southwest Coordination Center (SWCC) is the interagency focal point for coordinating the mobilization of resources between Zones of the Southwest Area and, when necessary, the National Coordination Center in Boise, ID, for assignment throughout the U.S. Located in Albuquerque, NM, the Center mobilizes resources for wildland fire, wildland fire use, prescribed fire, and other all-risk incidents. In addition, the Center provides Predictive Services and Intelligence related-products in support of incident management decision-making for wildland fire managers and on-the-ground wildland firefighters.
The fire alert for buffelgrass is an important milestone indicating that fire conditions are changing in the Sonoran Desert. Urban areas are affected as buffelgrass is encroaching on residential developments.
Tucson Weekly has provided another update on buffelgrass worth reading. The article, The fight against buffelgrass rages on in Southern Arizona - Stopping the Spread, includes comments by Sue Rutman at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
A series of slides has been developed by Aaryn Olsson that portray images of buffelgrass infestation and its development over time in a community in the Catalina Foothills. The pictures include county aerial photography and together form a time series going back to 1992. Buffelgrass may be seen in some small patches visible on black and white imagery. The extensive spread of buffelgrass in these communities is dramatic.
On March 29th, the Pima Association of Governments Regional Council adopted a resolution recognizing the threat posed by buffelgrass and encouraging greater engagement.
Tucson Water to conduct buffelgrass burn research in Avra Valley - see press release
Buffelgrass Fires Emerge in Greater Tucson Area
Buffelgrass populations are now doubling each year and are increasing the fire risk in the southern and central part of the state.
All of these fires were fueled predominantly by buffelgrass. All three fires were called brush fires despite the fact that they were mostly grass fires; they were mostly fueled by the invader buffelgrass.
On March 10th, Cong. Gabrielle Giffords spoke to the Sonoran Institute and her remarks included reference to the buffelgrass challenge:
"Another example {of environmental challenges we face} is the un-natural catastrophic fires that threaten the Sonoran desert. The Sonoran desert is not a place accustomed to fire as some ecosystems are. Yet because exotic invasive grass species, such as buffelgrass, are expanding, the desert now burns. Unfortunately, cacti are not designed to survive fire so the result is serious injury to the land. In addition, these grasses create a continuous fuel source that can act as a "wick" that draws fire from the desert into grasslands and up into the forests. This is what happened during the 250,000 acre Cave Creek fire in 2005.
It's tough to measure the total impact of these fires to our state, but we know that the costs are tremendous. By working together to care for our land and eradicate invasive species, we will not only save money and protect our environment, we will save lives."