Invasive Plant Management Program

With over 40 species of fish, hundreds of plant species, and 220 species of mammals, the American River Parkway is an important natural oasis in our growing metropolitan area. A threat facing the Parkway today is invasive plants, non-native plants that cause some kind of harm to the surrounding environment. They affect the Parkway in a variety of ways:

• Increase soil erosion and can cause major damage to streams and other wetland areas that provide habitat for native fish, plants, and animals.
• Increase the frequency and risk of wildfires.
• Decrease biodiversity.
• Put endangered and threatened species at further risk. In fact, invasive species are the second leading cause of animal population decline and extinction worldwide.
• Displace native plants that wildlife and fish depend on for food.
• Decrease flood conveyance, increasing flood risk to surrounding areas.

Removing invasive plants allows our natural systems to flourish and prevents the loss of vital resources.  It is also one of the single most impactful conservation investments you can make – with every dollar spent on early intervention saving $17 later. (The adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” really rings true here!)  That is why ARPF has managed invasive plants on the Parkway for over 15 years.

 

Invasive plants removed from the Parkway include:

Red sesbania (Sesbania punicea)

Spanish broom, French broom, and Scotch broom (Spartium junceum & Genista monspessulana)

Yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitalis)

Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum)

Giant reed (Arundo donax)

Pyracantha (Pyracantha sp)

Stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens)

 

Join the Invasive Plant Patrol! Our Invasive Plant Patrol volunteers work throughout the Parkway to identify and remove invasive plants and help conserve rare riparian zones, endangered animals and scenic views. Volunteers can adopt an area in need or act as a roving member helping out at different events. Contact volunteer@arpf.org for more information or to get involved.

Check out our calendar for regular invasive plant workdays.