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Projects

Invasive Species Eradication

Arundo donax/Tamarisk/Castor Bean

Arundo donax, also know as giant reed or giantcane, is a prolific invasive weed in the Santa Ana River watershed. SAWAhas been actively involved in projects to remove Arundo from the SantaAna watershed. The following photographs are before (left) and after(right) pictures from an Arundo removal project in San Timoteo Creek thatwas performed in the winter of 1998. Native vegetation has begun to returnthe site. SAWA has performed some Tamarisk removalwithin the Santa Ana Watershed, often in conjunction with Arundo removal.Updated pictures will be placed on this page as they become available.

Preservation of Endangered Species

least Bell's Vireo/Willow Flycatcher

Efforts at protection of the leastBell's Vireo and the Willow Flycatcherhave concentrated on these two major causal factors. Cowbirdtrapping has been conducted extensively in some portions of the Santa Anawatershed, with most of the focus of SAWA's efforts on the Prado Basinand the Hidden Valley Wildlife Refuge. A large scale population study hasalso been conducted in this area in conjunction with the OrangeCounty Water District and the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService. In addition, vireo surveys have begun in San Timoteo Creek,with cowbird trapping to begin shortly. SAWA's efforts of Arundo and Saltcedareradication within the basin are also anticipated to benefit vireos (regrowthof native vegetation will provide vireo habitat). While the vireo continuesto be an endangered species, there is some indication that they are recoveringin the Santa Ana Watershed. The number of nesting pairs of vireos has steadilyincreased since 1986.

Santa Ana Sucker

Riverside-Corona RCD is currently building a man- made stream to helpreintroduce the Santa Ana Sucker into the Santa Ana Watershed. TheSanta Ana Sucker (Catostomus santaanae) is a fish that was common instreams of the Santa AnaWatershed and otherrivers of Southern California asrecently as the 1970's. It is now rarelyfound in theSanta Ana and San Gabriel Rivers, and has all but disappearedfrom other areas where it was once common. Because of the marked declinein the numbers of these fish, the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService recently listed the Santa Ana Sucker as Threatened under theEndangered Species Act.

Native Plant Nursery

The Native Plant Nursery is located at the Riverside-CoronaResource Conservation District, one of SAWA's member organizations.It is a small-scale propagation and revegetation facility used primarilyfor the growing of plants native to southern California. A number of treesand shrubs are grown for use in revegetation projects within the Riverside-CoronaRCD boundaries, and in conjunction with SAWA.

There are 30 growing tanks used for the propagation of willow and mulefatcuttings and 2,000 square feet of container stock area used in revegetationprojects for both riparian and upland restoration projects. Nursery stockis either grown from seed or from cuttings, and is placed in containersafter the first year. Cuttings are taken in the winter dormancy periodand grown in the spring and harvested again in the winter for plantingthe same year. The growth from some of the cuttings is used as the followingyears crop, while other cuttings are taken from plants in the field. Production currently stands at 600 to 800 cuttings per year, and over 200,2 gallon containers with nursery stock of various species.

Some of the more common trees and shrubs grown are white elder, redbud,mulefat, red willow, and sycamore. If a project requires revegetation,a number of trees could be propagated at the nursery for use on the project.Growing cuttings for use in the field usually takes from 8 months to ayear. Container stock can be used the same year if predation by animalsis not a problem. Plants can be installed in the field for use inriparian restoration and hillside plantings. A source of water is recommendedfor the first year to insure survival. If no water is available, the plants/treescan be planted along a watercourse with perennial water. This increasessurvival and more rapid growth. Revegetation with nursery stock is recommendedonly as a second course of action. If year-round water is available, naturecan revegetate an area after fire, flood, or invasive plant removal asfast, or faster, than planted stock. Use of nursery stock is recommendedonly if required by an agency plan, or if it would increase native plantestablishment from a removal area.

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