Larkspur Creekside Open Space
Friends, in collaboration with the Larkspur Creekside Homeowners’ Association, began a project in 2006 to remove invasive exotic vegetation from an area adjacent to a tidal wetland and revegetate with native species. French broom, Harding grass, fennel, ice plant, pampas grass, and small acacias have been removed, and treated areas seeded
Volunteers planting grindelia downstream of Bon Air Bridge
with the native grasses creeping wild rye (Leymus triticoides spp.) and meadow barley (Hordeum brachyantherum spp.). Two problems make this a challenging site. First, we did not receive permission to remove some nearby tall acacias. Second, domestic geese are fed nearby and they graze on the newly-planted native vegetation, doing severe damage. The project is maintained by Lisa DiGirolamo, the Project Manager, and Larkspur residents.
Funding has been provided by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Private Stewardship Grant Program, the Ross Valley Sanitary District and Larkspur Creekside HOA.
Larkspur Creek
Begun in the fall of 1996, this cooperative endeavor with Redwood High School classes and the City of Larkspur has led to the revegetation of one bank of a largely tidal section of Larkspur Creek between Doherty Drive and Meadowood Drive. The artificial channel is
Larkspur Creek with young live oaks and shrubs planted by Friends.
about 1500 feet long, cuts through filled marshland, and bounds the Niven property on two sides. We have removed acacia trees, pampas grass, broom, blackberry and fennel, and replaced them with native plants. The exposed location and poor soil are challenges for revegetation, so plantings have been restricted to 6 species of trees (mainly coast live oak and willow), 7 species of shrubs and vines, and 4 species of grasses, sedges and rushes. As these species grow and provide shade and leaf litter, the environment should become more hospitable to a wider variety of plants. We are anticipating that with the development of the Niven property, riparian vegetation on that side will mirror Friends’ work.
Funding has been provided by the Marin County Wildlife and Fisheries Advisory Committee.