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Corps ecologist helps remove invasive plant from Hansen Dam |
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Written by Danny Kelly
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Saturday, 08 November 2008 |
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 Carvel Bass, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District ecologist, removes a stock of seeds from an invasive castor bean plant at Hansen Dam Nov. 7. The husk holds more than 100 spine-covered seeds. (USACE photo by Danny Kelly)
The castor bean plant, once commercially used in Southern California for lubricants prior to the invention of petroleum, is growing where it shouldn’t near Hansen Dam, according to Bill Neill, invasive plant expert. “It grows like cancer,” he said.
Neil works in the removal of invasive species throughout Southern California, to include several Los Angeles District basins.
Carvel Bass, Los Angeles District ecologist, helped cut off several husks from the plants during the removal.
Each husk has more than 100 seeds, according to Neill.
“We’re harvesting hundreds of future plants,” he said.
Neill visited the site in October to spray the plants with Garlon 4, a herbicide, to prepare the way for removal. The plants grew mostly during the summer months, according to Neill.
“Invasive plants take up acreage the native plants would take up if they could,” Bass said. “(More native plants) would allow more native birds and other animals to be in that area.”
Native plants such as the black willow and mule fat (named for its consumption by the animal), are a danger to not only the plants, but the animals living in them, according to Bass.
“The danger is that you lose the opportunity to have a restored environment,” he said. “The reason I say restored, is because it has to be restored from having these invasive weeds put there, then it would be more like the natural, native environment … for the wildlife.”
Projects such as the removal of the invasive castor bean plant will continue at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District sites, according to Bass.
“This has happened before in other locations, and they will continue to keep happening,” he said. |
