Giant Reed Removal
8/26/06

Recently, the Elkhorn Slough Foundation’s land staff joined forces
with the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve at the Moss
Landing Wildlife Area, in the west end of the slough, to remove a patch
of an invasive, non-native plant called giant reed. Giant reed, also
known as Arundo donax, is in the grass family, but this is no ordinary
grass – as you can see it had to be taken out with a chain saw!

Giant reed is a tall, perennial grass that can grow to over 20 feet in
height. Its fleshy, creeping rootstocks form compact masses from which
tough, fibrous roots emerge that penetrate deeply into the soil. Once
established, giant reed has the ability to outcompete and completely
suppress native vegetation.