Dry Creek Red Sesbania Dry Creek Red Sesbania Management Program Management Program

2004-20102004-2010

By Lizette LongacreBy Lizette Longacre

Natural Resource ManagerNatural Resource Manager

Administered by Placer RCDAdministered by Placer RCD

Red Sesbania (Red Sesbania (Sesbania puniceaSesbania punicea))FactsFacts

AKA: rattlebush, scarlet AKA: rattlebush, scarlet wisteria, wisteria,

Native to South AmericaNative to South America

Introduced as an ornamentalIntroduced as an ornamental

High seed productionHigh seed production

Grows/matures fast Grows/matures fast

Seeds toxic to poultry, Seeds toxic to poultry, cattle, sheep, goats and cattle, sheep, goats and humanshumans

““Q” Listed by Ca Dept. of Q” Listed by Ca Dept. of Food and AgricultureFood and Agriculture

Project Funding -Project Funding - Proposition 13 Flood Protection Proposition 13 Flood Protection Corridor Program Grant - provided by the CA DWRCorridor Program Grant - provided by the CA DWR

Project OversightProject Oversight – –Management Advisory Team: Management Advisory Team: Sacramento and Placer County, City of Sacramento and Sacramento and Placer County, City of Sacramento and City of Roseville, SAFCA, Placer County Agricultural City of Roseville, SAFCA, Placer County Agricultural Commissioner, California Dept. of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish Commissioner, California Dept. of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and NOAA Fisheriesand Wildlife Service, and NOAA Fisheries

Project ManagementProject Management – – SAFCA and May & SAFCA and May & Associates, Inc. provided hands-on project managementAssociates, Inc. provided hands-on project management

Initial Treatment and FundingInitial Treatment and Funding(2004-2006)(2004-2006)

Project ObjectivesProject Objectives

Improve floodwater conveyanceImprove floodwater conveyance Aid the restoration of natural processesAid the restoration of natural processes Contribute to a statewide effort to control Contribute to a statewide effort to control

red sesbaniared sesbania Eliminate a large key source population of Eliminate a large key source population of

red sesbaniared sesbania Restore recreational and habitat values Restore recreational and habitat values

along Dry Creek.along Dry Creek.

Baseline Red Sesbania MappingBaseline Red Sesbania Mapping

Approximately 26 linear miles (14 acres) of Red Sesbania were mapped within the 100-square mile watershed boundary

Before Removal (2004)Before Removal (2004)

Photographs courtesy of Restoration Resources

Initial Removal (2004/2005)Initial Removal (2004/2005)

Photographs courtesy of Restoration Resources

Red Sesbania in the Lower Watershed

2004-2006 Activities2004-2006 Activities

BEFORE

AFTER

Photographs courtesy of May and Associates

Project ManagementProject Management – – Placer RCDPlacer RCD administrating programadministrating program– SAFCA providing technical supportSAFCA providing technical support

Success Criterion: Success Criterion: less than 1% less than 1% remaining in treatment arearemaining in treatment area

Maintenance ProgramMaintenance Program(2007-2011)(2007-2011)

Stimulus (2010-2011) Stimulus (2010-2011)

City of Sacramento, Parks (2007-2011)City of Sacramento, Parks (2007-2011)

County of Sacramento, DWR (2007-2011)County of Sacramento, DWR (2007-2011)

Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (2007-2011)Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (2007-2011)

Water Forum (2007-2011)Water Forum (2007-2011)

Placer County Planning Dept. - CALFED (2008-2010)Placer County Planning Dept. - CALFED (2008-2010)

Ducks Unlimited (2009) Ducks Unlimited (2009)

CDFA, Placer Co. WMA grant (2008-2009)CDFA, Placer Co. WMA grant (2008-2009)

County of Placer (2007-2009)County of Placer (2007-2009)

City of Roseville (2007-2008)City of Roseville (2007-2008)

County of Sacramento, Parks (2008)County of Sacramento, Parks (2008)

Maintenance FundingMaintenance Funding

Crew of ~13 people Crew of ~13 people Two treatments between June and Oct.- hand Two treatments between June and Oct.- hand

removal or application of Aquamasterremoval or application of Aquamaster Collect lawn-sized bags of seed podsCollect lawn-sized bags of seed pods

Photographs courtesy of Agri-Chemical

2007-2010 Management Highlights2007-2010 Management Highlights

ResultsResults Contractor met performance criterion by Contractor met performance criterion by

removing 99% of red sesbania from Dry Creek removing 99% of red sesbania from Dry Creek WatershedWatershed

All seed pods removed from watershedAll seed pods removed from watershed

Increased effort in high water yearsIncreased effort in high water years

2010 - reduced amount of 2010 - reduced amount of herbicide but no decrease herbicide but no decrease in removal effort to datein removal effort to date

No of seedlings/year still No of seedlings/year still high, especially in lower high, especially in lower watershedwatershed

Statewide EffortsStatewide Efforts Dry Creek data added to statewide RS mapping effort in 2010Dry Creek data added to statewide RS mapping effort in 2010

Dry Creek watershed identified as heaviest infestation area in stateDry Creek watershed identified as heaviest infestation area in state

Other areas of infestation:Other areas of infestation:

– Churn Creek – Shasta CountyChurn Creek – Shasta County

– Oroville area- downstream into Feather RiverOroville area- downstream into Feather River

– San Joaquin River - Fresno County San Joaquin River - Fresno County

Sacramento/Placer Dry Creek project - largest regional Sacramento/Placer Dry Creek project - largest regional management effort in statemanagement effort in state

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Weed control is a long-term objectiveWeed control is a long-term objective; ; the project should be long term too!the project should be long term too!

Red sesbania can germinate, grow to 6 Red sesbania can germinate, grow to 6 feet tall and produce flowers/seeds within feet tall and produce flowers/seeds within 6 weeks 6 weeks Re-treatments are a MUST! Re-treatments are a MUST!

DonDon’’t start something you cant start something you can’’t finisht finish

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned (Continued)(Continued)

Maximize your fundsMaximize your funds with efficient with efficient use of paid staff partnered with use of paid staff partnered with volunteersvolunteers

PartnerPartner- Look for other programs that - Look for other programs that can maximize your programcan maximize your program

Line out your grants so there is no gap Line out your grants so there is no gap in fundingin funding

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned (Continued)(Continued)

DonDon’’t forget the permitst forget the permits

(allow 3-6 months minimum for permit (allow 3-6 months minimum for permit processing time).processing time).

RestorationRestoration (passive or active) (passive or active) following weed control is important.following weed control is important.

Keep up to date on similar projects and Keep up to date on similar projects and effectiveness of various techniqueseffectiveness of various techniques..

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned (Continued)(Continued) Document Document your progress your progress –– a picture is worth a a picture is worth a

thousand words!thousand words!

RecordRecord your successes and failures in project your successes and failures in project notes.notes.

NEVER GIVE UP!!!NEVER GIVE UP!!!

Next StepsNext Steps Confirm upper watershed infestationsConfirm upper watershed infestations

– biologist to map identified sitesbiologist to map identified sites

– seek to have Ag Commissioner’s field crew spot treat seek to have Ag Commissioner’s field crew spot treat identified sitesidentified sites

Engage contractor to treat watershed following Engage contractor to treat watershed following prior years’ protocol – two sweepsprior years’ protocol – two sweeps

Distribute postcards to adjacent property ownersDistribute postcards to adjacent property owners

Recruit additional funding commitments from Recruit additional funding commitments from partners – new/oldpartners – new/old