City Crews to Tackle Shoreline Spartina

From a City of Alameda announcement:

The City of Alameda Public Works Department and the California State Coastal Conservancy will be using a nontoxic herbicide to control Spartina, an invasive weed along the City’s shoreline, during the week of August 20-23, 2012. Public paths will remain open at all times though the public will be requested to stay out of work areas sprayed with the herbicide during the day of work. The work areas are within the tidal zone.

The Spartina control work will be at the following shoreline locations:

• Ballena Isle Marina
• Ballena Isle Bridge
• Behind Encinal High School
• Behind Paden Elementary School
• 2400 block of Shoreline Drive
• Bayview Drive to Towata Park
• Bay Farm Island Bridge to the High Street Bridge
• Bay Farm Island Shoreline Park from Veteran’s Court to Brunswick Road

Control of Spartina helps prevent flooding, reduces its growth at marinas and residential boat docks, and minimizes its competition with other preferred shoreline plants.

This year will be the eighth year that the City and Coastal Conservancy have partnered to remove Spartina from the shoreline. The shoreline areas covered by Spartina have been reduced approximately 90 percent since work began in 2005.

Notifications of pending work at specific locations will be posted 48-72 hours in advance. More information can be found on the Invasive Spartina Project website at http://www.spartina.org/.

Those who have questions may contact Jim Barse at 510-747-7950 or jbarse@ci.alameda.ca.us.

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