INVASIVE SPECIES

You may have heard reports of our sustained drought conditions that are continuing to affect the Southwest, and the mountain is not immune to the warming trend.  While we continue to enjoy our sky island retreat, we need to take precautions to ensure its recovery and protect it from further fire threats.  A new threat that has been identified is cheat- grass, Bromus tectorum.  Cheatgrass is a highly flammable grass that has been found on the mountain in the last couple of years and is of concern because it would significantly compromise our ability to keep fires under control in Summerhaven.  In Utah, cheatgrass has extended the fire season.  It creates an extensive seedbed that can survive fire and repopulate quickly before native plants can become re-established. Because of its short life cycle, cheatgrass becomes dry fuel for fires by early summer, making many areas easy targets for hotter, faster-moving fires that burn with greater intensity.  Because this grass is just getting a foothold on the mountain, it should be fairly easy to eradicate if we act now.  Trees for Mt. Lemmon,  with a grant from the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension’s Forest Health program (http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/fh/), has conducted surveys of the areas affected and has begun to treat affected areas as of spring of 2007.  

Download report (pdf)

2011 -  Cheatgrass was first reported April 23rd.  Please remove it where you see it and report to info@treesformountlemmon.net

This year we are embarking on a more aggressive spraying program.  If you would like to help, please send and email to info@treesformountlemmon.net

The following map shows cheatgrass reported areas as of 5/16/2011 (pdf)

Many people reported sightings and treatments at the May 28th FireWise meeting thank you everyone who has been keepng vigilant and reporting and treating cheat grass.

NOTE:  As of July 1st, it is no longer possible to spray.  Most of the cheatgrass now needs to be pulled and bagged to avoid letting the seeds disperse.  Please do this very gently.
 

2010 - The first cheatgrass was found and reported by Dennis Cozzetti on May 18th.  In areas where peopel are pulling, it is much reduced.  For those areas where people are not actively pulling and/or spraying, it is worse than ever.  


CHEATGRASS EDUCATION AND ERADICATION

  The Ecological Restoration Institute at NAU has just published a very good overview cheatgrass and the reasons why we are so concerned about it on the mountain.  To view the pdf file of this publication (click here)
Download information sheet on cheatgrass (pdf)


Cheatgrass
Cheatgrass - Bromus tectorum

Characteristics of cheatgrass:

  •  6 – 12” high
  • “Nodding” seed head (bends over)
  • Mostly stems and seeds, few leaves
  • Turns purple when mature

Remember when eradicating:

  • Spray with chemicals only when green.
  • Pull before the seeds dry and disperse.
  • Pull gently; the plants usually come out easily.
  • Immediately put plants in plastic bag and seal before disposal.


WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP