Invasive species threatens Lower Colorado livelihood

Fast-growing invasive species are rapidly displacing native plants along the lower Colorado River and could threaten livelihoods, wetlands experts said.

On Thursday experts gathered in downtown Yuma to discuss options on how to stem the growth.

"That's probably the single most important waterway because it supplies 30 million people with drinking water," John Laccinole said. "Plus it supplies agribusiness in Imperial and Yuma counties, so we need to take care of it."

Laccinole, a Ventura County, Calif., resident whose wife has owned vacation property in the Clip Mill Site just north of Yuma since 1936, said he is acting as a liaison between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva's office and local residents about invasive vegetation such as the Arundo donax.

Arundo donax is a 15-foot perennial reed that resembles bamboo. It chokes riversides and stream channels, and reduces habitat for wildlife. It was introduced to Los Angeles in the 1820s for erosion control in drainage canals and has now spread to many warm coastal freshwaters of the U.S., said Laccinole.

"It could substantially deplete the Colorado so we have to take action," Laccinole said. "It has no support for wildlife habitat, it kills aquatic life and becomes the dominant species."

Salt cedar is another thirsty plant that can guzzle up to 200 gallons of water per day, Laccinole said. It was introduced to the United States in the 1800s as a source of firewood and erosion control. It has now taken over 5 million acres nationwide, he said.

One of the threats of invasive species is they create a monoculture that will not allow any other vegetation to grow in the same area, Mitch Ellis, project leader of the Southwest Arizona Natural Wildlife Complex, said Laccinole.

The complex manages just under one million acres covering the Imperial, Cibola and Kofa National Wildlife Refuges that also includes 30 miles of the lower Colorado River. Arundo donax, salt cedar and fragments are all horrible for wildlife habitat, Ellis said.

"The warblers, vireos, flycatchers - all the migratory birds like a diverse habitat and they evolve with native plants. They are being displaced. They still migrate through the area but they won't nest and won't get the food they need."

People want their public lands cared for not just because they recreate on them but they expect them to be preserved for future generations. A savvy way of doing this is to create public/private partnerships, Ellis said.

"It's more effective that way, more economical. People bring different skill sets to the table. We just don't have the personnel to get all the work done."

Two of those private partners who joined with the wildlife complex are Aquatic Environments Inc. and Eynon Weed Control. George Forni is president of Aquatic Environments.

"We have a partnership with Eynon. They handle land-based eradication and we work from the water," Forni said. "Between the two companies, we have everything you need to get the water and land transition."

One of the pieces used is an aquamog. It is a low-draft, self-propelled barge that cuts vegetation down to the water line, chops the roots, separates them from the soil, which is then deposited back on the bottom of the marsh.

Debris is off-loaded on to a flatbed using a harvester. A conveyor system allows the harvester to haul it on to a shore bank or truck and when dried used as compost.

Steve Sander, of Eynon, said they use mowing equipment to harvest land vegetation. Their equipment will take down trees up to 10-inch diameter.

"A lot of Arundo is on land and water so it's going to require a joint effort between our two companies," Sander said. "It's spreading fast through California, Arizona and Mexico. It's a long-term process but we're getting rid of a lot of it."

Rep. Grijalva, a Democrat, represents Arizona's District 7, which includes Yuma County. He is chairman of the House subcommittee on national parks, refuges and public lands. He is also committed to restoring the habitat of the lower Colorado River, said Araceli Rodriguez, Grijalva's community representative.

"I listen to the stakeholders and gather information so Grijalva can be briefed," Rodriguez said. "This is a different type of problem because it (Arundo donax) is not the only invasive species. We're going to see what can be done, but it's in the very preliminary stages."

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William Roller can be reached at
wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.