Army Repeats Operation to Eradicate Invasive Weed

Aloha Leeward Coast Community Leaders:

The U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii (USAG-HI) will conduct a second aerial spray operation, June 28-29, to eradicate a population of fountain grass found in Makua Valley.

Oahu Army Natural Resources Program (OANRP) will continue treating plants in a 9.6 acre zone on Makua Military Reservation. The operation is part of the Army and Oahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC) joint effort to keep the destructive, non-native grass from spreading across the Waianae Coast.

The initial aerial spray operation, which was conducted in late May, treated approximately 300 plants, however the operation was halted due to rising winds. Aerial application of an herbicide will be conducted again on individual plants using a small helicopter equipped with a suspended spray ball. Operations will only take place in optimal (low wind/rain) weather conditions, which may be limited to only a few hours tomorrow. During application, a helicopter may be visible from Farrington Highway near Makua Valley.

There are no rare or endangered plants within the treatment area, and the application does not pose a risk to ground or ocean waters, springs, or wells of Makua Valley.

The invasive species management activity is not expected to impact area motorists or hikers. For more information or concerns about this effort, please contact U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii Community Relations at 656-3158 or 656-3159.

BACKROUND:

Fountain grass is a state-listed noxious weed, ecologically adapted to fuel brushfires. In December, the OANRP conducted a small-scale, ground-based eradication effort of fountain grass, after a population of the weed was discovered on the cliffs above Kaneana cave along Farrington Highway.

A majority of the plants are located on very steep terrain, making it too dangerous to control by hand, aerial treatment was the next critical step to control the entire population, according to Army biologists.

The plants are scattered on approximately 30 acres of Army and neighboring land, however the operation targets a concentration of plants on approximately 9.6 acres of Army property.

Fountain grass is well-established elsewhere on Oahu, notably Diamond Head and Lanikai. Community members can help stop the spread of invasive seeds by washing boots after each hike, and if found, contact OISC for proper disposal at 808-266-7994 or www.oahuisc.org.

Mahalo-

Amy L. Bugala

U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, Public Affairs Chief, Community Relations

314 Sasaoka St. BLDG 300, RM 105, WAAF Schofield Barracks, HI 96857

p:808-656-3158 // f:808-656-3162

amy.bugala@us.army.mil

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Caveats: NONE