American River Parkway
Invasive Plant Management Project
(ARP-IPMP)

In 1997, CNPS-Sacramento Valley Chapter botanists, under the leadership of Eva Butler, initiated a study to asses the types and numbers of non-native plants that existed throughout the 4,600-acre American River Parkway. More than 120 species were identified, but only about 20 were determined to pose a threat to the ecological health of the Parkway, due to their ability to spread quickly. As a result of this study, CNPS assisted the Sacramento County Department of Regional Parks, Recreation and Open Space (County Parks) and the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) in applying for funding to control 5 of the 20 most invasive weeds: red sesbania, giant reed, Chinese tallow, Spanish broom, and tamarisk.

Phase One funding for the ARP-IPMP was received from the California Department of Transportation, the Wildlife Conservation Board and SAFCA to remove these species over a 653-acre area. SWW is implementing the community stewardship component of this project, and is actively engaging community volunteers in removing these and other invasive weeds on the Parkway. Since May 2001, when SWW began to support the IPMP, it has conducted more than 150 work groups, totaling over 13,000 hours of volunteer support. Our goal is to have approximately 500 hours per month of volunteer support.

SWW welcomes community volunteers of all ages !

For more information, call Ken Myall, SWW Stewardship Program Manager, at 916-486-2773 or Frank Wallace, SWW Director, at 916-213-4682.

Please send or email volunteer forms to Ken at [Kmyatt@arpf.org]

 We are located at the American River Parkway Foundation Volunteer Center at 5700 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95608.

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