Port of Stockton
2201 W Washington St.
Stockton, CA 95203
PH 209-946-0246
FX 464-1251

Arundo Eradication and Habitat Restoration Program

Arundo donax (Arundo) is an invasive plant species that has infested many parts of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.  Its ability to survive and grow at almost any time under a wide variety of environmental conditions makes it extremely difficult to eradicate.  Arundo, a member of the grass family that resembles bamboo, is an extremely fast-growing plant that can grow up to 4 inches per day and reach 30 feet in height.  It forms dense clumps that spread from thick roots that grow horizontally.  Problems associated with Arundo include riparian habitat loss, erosion of streambanks and levees, fire danger because it is highly flammable, and high water consumption (1 square yard of Arundo can consume up to 500 gallons of water per day). 

The goal of the program is to remove the Arundo so that native vegetation can reestablish and provide suitable habitat for fish and wildlife.  The Port has begun an eradication program using a somewhat experimental method of treatment.  Previously known methods include chemical treatment, mechanical removal, and prescribed burning, all of which have drawbacks and limitations.  The method being tested by the Port is based on work by researchers at the University of the Pacific and includes cutting the Arundo down to ground level, then securely covering the area with thick black tarp.  The tarp serves two purposes—it inhibits new growth by preventing sunlight from reaching the plant, and it traps heat during the hot summer months, effectively “cooking” the roots and killing them.  Although the effectiveness of this method has yet to be determined, it offers an environmentally friendly alternative to other methods that can have negative impacts on the surrounding environment and are often prohibitively expensive.