Northern San Joaquin Valley WMA – California Invasive Plant Council

Region covered: San Joaquin, Stanislaus & Merced Counties

Co-Chairs: Diana Waller, USDA-NRCS and
Jarrod Martin, East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District

General contact: Diana Waller, (209) 491-9320 x132, Diana.Waller@ca.usda.gov and
Jarrod Martin, (209) 491-9320 x100, Jarrod.Martin@ca.usda.gov

Meetings: Quarterly at the Stanislaus County Agriculture Department,
3800 Cornucopia Way, Suite B, Modesto, CA (209) 525-4730

Formed: 1999

Outreach Summary:

San Luis Wildlife Refuge bus tours and classroom visits for local school children
Restoration events, demonstrating multiple control options
Weed mapping demonstrations
Invasive weed education for the general public & school children at events hosted by State Parks, e.g. annual Earth Day Event

Several varieties of weeds can be found along a ten mile stretch of the lower Stanislaus River from the City of Ripon to its confluence with the San Joaquin River. Several species are being controlled in this area tree including tree of heaven, arundo, edible Fig, himalayan blackberry, perennial pepperweed and yellow starthistle. Chemical control is used to reduce the weed populations.
Goals are to protect mature and newly restored riparian habitat for multiple endangered and threatened species.
Project partners: California State Parks, United States Fish & Wildlife Service, United States Army Corps of Engineers and private land owners.

In the Turlock Lake State Recreation Area Campground, large populations if himalayan blackberry and edible fig can be found. These weeds over populate riparian areas, roadsides, and disturbed areas. They crowd out native vegetation and endanger wildlife habitat. The himalayan blackberry is removed manually and edible fig is treated with chemicals for eradication. Strategic goals are to protect the Central Valley riparian community. The main project partner for this endeavor is California State Parks.

Army Corp of Engineers
Stanislaus River Parks
California Department of Boating & Waterways
California State Parks, Four Rivers District
City of Modesto Parks
City of Turlock
Del Rio Country Club
East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District
Grassland Water District
Hooker Grain Company
Master Lawn Care
Merced County Agriculture Department
Merced Irrigation District
Modesto Irrigation District
Naglee Burk Irrigation District
Nitro-Green Lawn & Tree Care
Reclamation District #1007
San Joaquin County Agriculture Department
San Joaquin County Mosquito Abatement District
San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation
Stanislaus County Agriculture Department
Stanislaus County Public Works
Stockton East Water District
Turlock Irrigation District
University of California Cooperative Extension, San Joaquin County
United States Fish & Wildlife Service
CALFED
San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex
United States Deaprtment of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Merced
United States Deaprtment of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Modesto
United States Deaprtment of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Stockton
West Stanislaus Resource Conservation District
Wilbur-Ellis Company