Tucson, AZ - Saguaro National Park is looking for volunteers to assist pulling buffelgrass within the Rincon Mountain District (east) this Saturday, January 10. Interested volunteers should meet at the park's Rincon Mountain Visitor Center at 8:00 am. Please park in the Administration parking lot (first right turn after entering the park, follow the signs to the parking area just south of the visitor center parking lot). From the visitor center, park staff and volunteers will carpool a short distance to the work site and hike off trail to the buffelgrass location.
Buffelgrass is an invasive, non-native plant which threatens the Sonoran Desert. It has the potential to spread quickly, out-compete slower growing native vegetation, and carry fire into portions of the desert not adapted to fire conditions.
"Fighting buffelgrass is hard work and we always appreciate volunteers willing to help," according to Scott Stonum, Chief of Resource Management for Saguaro National Park. "We hope to see people out here on Saturday morning and other scheduled volunteer buffelgrass pulls."
This event is one of several buffelgrass weed whacking groups in the greater Tucson area which happen every second Saturday from September through May. Please bring water and wear sturdy toe-closed shoes, long pants and a hat. Bring a pair of gloves, if you have them. Tools and gloves will be provided. Volunteers will be working with park staff and will conclude the day's efforts around noon.
Details:
What: Volunteer to assist with removal of buffelgrass
Where: Rincon Mountain Visitor Center, 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85730
When: Saturday, January 10 at 8am-noon
Bring: Water, gloves, hat, and sturdy shoes
For more information about buffelgrass, Beat Back Buffelgrass Day (January 24), or other buffelgrass pull events around Tucson, please visit www.buffelgrass.org. For more information about Saguaro National Park and its fight against buffelgrass, visit https://www.nps.gov/sagu/naturescience/invasive-plants.htm or contact Dana Backer at e-mail us or 520 733 5179.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
