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project leader
Roland A
location
San Gabriel River
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the project

The project of habitat restoration will consist of the removal of the invasive plant tamarisk from the East Fork of the San Gabriel River.  It will also include the planting of trees within the campsite. The Forest service defines invasive plants as “non-native plants whose introduction does, or is likely to, cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.”  

Tamarisk can usually out-compete native plants for water. A single, large tamarisk can transpire up to 300 gallons of water per day. In many areas where watercourses are small or intermittent and tamarisk has taken hold, it can severely limit the available water, or even dry up a water source.

Tamarisk can grow in salty soil because it can eliminate excess salt from the tips of its leaves. When the leaves are shed, this salt increases the salinity of the soil, further reducing the ability of native plants to compete.

Because of its ability to spread, its hardiness, its high water consumption, and its tendency to increase the salinity of the soil around it, the tamarisk has often completely displaced native plants in wetland areas. From a wildlife point of view, the tamarisk has little value and is usually considered detrimental to native animals. The leaves, twigs and seeds are extremely low in nutrients, and, as a result, very few insects or wildlife will use them. In one study along the lower Colorado River, tamarisk stands supported less than 1% of the winter bird life that would be found in a native plant stand. Because of the tamarisk's ability to eliminate competition and form single-species thickets, wildlife populations have dropped dramatically. Tamarisk is difficult to eradicate. It grows back readily after cutting or burning. Research and many programs are now in place to reduce or eradicate tamarisk, and laws are being enacted to eliminate its sale and importation. At Death Valley National Park, it was found that, when tamarisk was eradicated and native species allowed to grow, water returned to wetland areas and wildlife again thrived.

the steps

  • Train Scouts to remove plants.
  • Set up easy ups, water station and first aid station. Go over all safety rules with Scouts and adults.
  • The next step is to go over safe handling of tools and assign adults to observe and mentor Scouts. I will then break Scouts into groups of 3 and make sure that all Scout are properly hydrated and have applied sunscreen.  
  • Assign each group to three types of assignments, digging out seedlings and disposing, trimming large plants of seeds and disposing, digging out of large plants. Older Scouts will remove larger plants. Younger Scouts will trim seeds and dig up seedlings.
  • Mr. Walsh, with the help of other adults, will treat plants with U.S. Forestry-approved herbicide too large to dig out. We will take a ten minute break every hour and make sure that Scouts hydrate.
  • Take younger Scouts to where trees will be planted and plant trees.
  • At campfire I will discuss the day with Scouts and talk about how much their service means to the their community and how thankful I am that they helped me with their project. Let Scouts talk about what they felt the experience meant to them.

why we're doing it

For many years, we have helped tear down dams on the San Gabriel River that were built my miners panning for gold. These dams have stopped native fish from traveling to their spawning grounds. We have also helped pick up trash along the river left by picnicers.

But the worst danger to the river are these non-native plants. They could literally stop the flow of water down stream by clogging the river bed. This would leave no water for fish, animals, birds and insects. This would also stop the flow of water to aquifers downstream. Many people and animals rely on this water source for drinking water. We feel that those who benefit from the San Gabriel River should help protect the river. And that is what we want to do.

Conversation

09/08/2012 - 5:16am GryphenDruid project leader

Please note that the matching fund starts on Sunday, Sept 9 at 7pm . That's when you can double your money up to $25.00. Funded by the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation (a foundation created by Jack Johnson and his wife Kim), ioby will be matching all donations to all projects on ioby up to $25 beginning on Sunday, Sept 7pm PST. Your $25 donation turns into $50. Your $75 donation turns into $100. As of 1:00AM Saturday morning I have been able to raise $300. If just 20 more people donate $25, we'll reach our goal. Won't you be one of our 20 supporters? This is the website if you would like to donate: https://ioby.org/project/eagle-project-removing-tamarisk-san-gabriel-river . Remember, the matching fund starts on Also, thank you to the website Burbank N Beyond for coming to my water polo game and interviewing me for an article at http://burbanknbeyond.com/ . And thank you to the Burbank Leader for this article at http://www.burbankleader.com/the818now/tn-blr-0907-burbank-teen-seeks-publics-help-in-capitalizing-on-music-stars-pledge,0,934515.story . Yours In Scouting, Griffin Armstorff

12/06/2012 - 8:26pm GryphenDruid project leader

Dear Griffin, The Forest Service and the Fisheries Resource Volunteer Corps thank you for your time and hard work in preparing, organizing and completing your Eagle Scout Project that took place on September 29, 2012 on the East Fork of the San Gabriel River in the Angeles National Forest. As a result of your project and the 42 additional volunteers from your Scout Troop, 5,260 tamarisk seedlings and 99 larger tamarisks were removed from a one-quarter mile stretch of the river near Heaton Flat. In addition 500 pounds of trash and tamarisk plant material were removed from the river. Although most of the plants removed were seedlings, it is important to note that they can grow a foot a month and will eventually have a significant negative impact to the watershed and the riparian area, if not removed. The removal of tamarisk plants preserves the water and the native plants, since a mature plant can consume as much as 200 gallons of water a day, and in addition, it increases the salinity of the soil around it, often completely displacing the native plants. The total hours of all volunteers that participated on the day of your project were 258 hours. The hours that you worked on the day of the project, in addition to the many more hours spent in preparing and coordinating your project is greatly appreciated, which has resulted in a significant improvement to this section of the river. Your donation of shovels, trowels, pruners and loppers is greatly appreciated and will be put to good use by the Fisheries Resource Volunteer Corps on future projects. It has been a sincere pleasure to work with you and your family, as well as, the leaders and scouts of Troop 209. You have truly “Made a Difference” and have provided a wonderful example to the younger scouts in your troop. I wish you the very best as you continue in your scouting journey. Sincerely, Tom Walsh Fisheries Resource Volunteer Corps President cc: Esmeralda Bracamonte, U.S. Forest Service Lois Pickens, U.S. Forest Service

budget

8 Fiskars Extendable Handles Bypass Lopper, 9166 @ $25.00 ea. = $200.00

8 Fiskars Loop Handle Bypass Pruner with Carabiner Clip, 9111 @ $17.00 ea. = $136.00

8 Flexrake Classic Hand Trowel @ $13.00ea. = $134.00

Total for tools: $470.00

The tools will be donated to Fisheries Resource Volunteer Corps. This organization leads volunteer projects every week. It is a dedicated group that protects the enviroment.

Food costs, 50 Scouts for a weekend: $850.00

Total costs: $1250

Third party credit card processing (3%) = $37.50
ioby materials and labor = $35

Total to raise = $1322.50

updates

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photos

This is where photos will go once we build flickr integration

donors

  • Angela W.
  • Karel A.
  • Karel A.
  • Tamera O.
  • Brad&Merilee B.
  • Cynthia P.
  • Michael F.
  • David G.
  • Laurie K.
  • Jane E.
  • Lucila O.
  • Kristine S.
  • Joseph W.
  • Veronica F.
  • Veronica F.
  • Nancy S.
  • Robert C.
  • Rileigh T.
  • Tim T.
  • Louise T.
  • Arynn T.
  • Donald D.
  • Steve K.
  • Ted B.
  • Kathy H.
  • Rick B.
  • Robert A.
  • Alexis W.
  • David L.
  • Don A.
  • Patricia O M.