Earlier this month, Los Padres ForestWatch volunteers descended on Mission Canyon above Santa Barbara to join forces with our friends at the Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council and help eradicate cape ivy from the watershed.
Originally from South Africa, cape ivy was introduced to the eastern US in the mid-1800s and to California in the 1950s. The climate and soils of the Santa Barbara frontcountry provide perfect conditions for the invasive plant, and if left alone it will cover and outcompete local riparian plants and adversely impact habitat.
The crew uprooted and disposed of nearly 1,600 square feet of the ivy, but there’s still plenty more to haul out of the canyon … so we’ll be back!
Thanks to our volunteers for all their hard work, and to UCSB’s Coastal Fund for supporting Los Padres ForestWatch’s 2014 volunteer projects.
For more information about ForestWatch’s volunteer projects or to get involved, visit LPFW.org/volunteer.
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