The Council of Watershed Health, in partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation is working to remove four acres of arundo donax in high-priority target areas within the San Gabriel watershed to increase water availability in the basin and enhance native habitat. Additionally, the Council for Watershed Health will update its baseline survey to inform plans for removing more acreage of this highly invasive plant. This initiative is part of a larger statewide effort to eliminate this detrimental species.
Arundo donax, a giant cane plant, has been listed as one of the top 100 Worst Invaders of the World by the Invasive Species Specialist Group of the World Conservation Union. It proliferates along waterways across much of coastal and central California. Arundo has significant negative impacts on water availability, water quality, habitat, native species, fire regimes, and infrastructure, and it transpires water at a rate five times higher than native vegetation.
Project Partner: Council for Watershed Health (CWH)
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San Gabriel River Watershed Arundo Donax Implementation Program
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Upper Los Angeles River Watershed Restoration
The Program led by the Council for Watershed Health focuses on removing the invasive, water-intensive Arundo donax (giant reed) from critical areas within the watershed, including the City of Los Angeles and the surrounding San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica Mountains. Arundo transpires water at five times the rate of native plants, significantly impacting water resources, quality, and habitat. By removing Arundo, this project aims to restore approximately 82 acres, improving water availability for downstream capture/recharge and in-stream flow, with each acre cleared providing 20 acre-feet per year of water savings. The eradication will also reduce fire risks and promote the recovery of native vegetation and wildlife habitats.
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Arundo Donax Removal in the Los Angeles Watershed Sepulveda and Porter Ranch
The Council for Watershed Health is implementing a project to remove Arundo donax, an invasive species severely impacting California’s waterways and biodiversity. Focused on the Los Angeles River basin, with targeted removal in Porter Ranch and Sepulveda Basin, the project will reduce excess evapotranspiration of water and mitigate downstream ecological damage. Removal methods include biomass removal and targeted herbicide application, followed by monitoring and passive revegetation to support native species recovery. This effort aligns with California’s 30×30 Conservation Plan and LA County’s Integrated Water Resources Management goals to enhance riparian habitats and protect threatened species.
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Arundo Removal in the Los Angeles River Watershed Box Canyon and Chatsworth Nature Preserve
The Council for Watershed Health will remove 3.25 acres of Arundo donax from targeted stream sites within the Los Angeles River watershed, specifically in the West Valley areas of Box Canyon, Chatsworth Lake Manor, and Chatsworth Nature Preserve. This invasive species removal will help improve water availability, enhance habitat for native wildlife, and reduce fire risks by eliminating dense Arundo stands.
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Arundo Removal in the Los Angeles Watershed Falls Creek
The Council for Watershed Health (CWH) is targeting the removal of Arundo donax, a high-water use invasive plant, in the Falls Creek area of the Devil’s Canyon subwatershed to conserve water and restore native habitat. By removing 2.4 acres of Arundo, the project will save 48 acre-feet of water annually and prevent further expansion downstream into the Los Angeles River. This effort will improve water availability, reduce fire risks, and support the re-establishment of native vegetation, enhancing both water quality and habitat for local wildlife.