The Tanque Verde Challenge Continues ~ Help Us Remove Invasive Arundo and Restore the Flow!
Join WMG’s River Run Network in continuing our effort to completely remove invasive Arundo from Tanque Verde Creek!
Since winter 2021, we’ve been hosting volunteer work days to remove Arundo donax, a thirsty invasive plant that drinks up to 3-4 times as much water as native plants and crowds out native species. We’re focusing this work in a middle stretch of Tanque Verde Creek, where Arundo is widespread, and where removing it helps replenish the flows that are just below the surface.
River Run Network (RRN) volunteers and WMG staff have already removed 36,000 pounds (or 18 tons) of Arundo from this stretch of the Tanque Verde. It’s amazing to see the creek visually transformed — as the large Arundo stands are removed, the native cottonwoods, willows, and even Mexican elderberry trees have become more visible and have room to thrive.
Completely removing Arundo from Tanque Verde Creek is no small feat, so we’re hosting weekly workshops this fall and next spring to continue a massive volunteer effort to reach our goal.
Sign up for upcoming Arundo removal workshops and other RRN events at: Watershedmg.org/RRN.
Ready for some bonding out at the creek? Bring your service club or school, church, or sports group out to help remove Arundo while enjoying a morning along Tanque Verde Creek. Contact River Run Network Program Manager Lauren Monheim at lmonheim@watershedmg.org to set up a special event.
