Clearing Helotes Creek – Cutting Giant Cane Down to Size
This coming Saturday, April 10, 2010, you will have an opportunity to help restore Helotes Creek to its natural state.
Giant river cane (Arundo Donax) is an invasive plant that has taken over large segments of Helotes Creek. This plant chokes riversides and stream channels, crowds out native plants, interferes with flood control, increases fire potential, and reduces habitat for wildlife. Once established, this giant cane can outnumber and completely suppress native vegetation. On Saturday, as part of an ongoing effort to restore the unique vegetation of Helotes Creek, volunteers led by master naturalists will start to eradicate this river cane from Helotes Creek.
Volunteers will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Grey Forest City Hall located at 18502 Scenic Loop Road. You can park at the Scenic Loop Playground Clubhouse which is to the left, across the creek, behind City Hall. Everyone will then walk or carpool to the Menchaca and Scenic Loop Road area where the work will begin.
The cane will be removed and loaded onto trailers for disposal. This project has been approved for Alamo Area Master Naturalist volunteer hours.
You are asked to bring hand loppers and/or a hand saw, if you have them, water, insect repellent, and a snack if desired. Please wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, work gloves, and work boots or waterproof rubber boots if you have them.
Around 12:30 p.m. a complimentary lunch will be provided for all volunteers at the Scenic Loop Playground Clubhouse.
For more information, contact Cheryl Hamilton, Alamo Area Master Naturalist, at 210-342-9721 or at cryhm@hotmail.com or Wendy Leonard at 210-487-9688 or at wjcool66@yahoo.com. Please let them know if you plan to volunteer so they know how many to expect for lunch.
This project is sponsored by Bexar County, the City of Grey Forest, the Scenic Loop Playground Club, and the San Antonio Invaders (http://www.texasinvasives.org/resources/publications/SA%20_Invaders_Poster.pdf).