Blog Post
From the desk of Robert Rappaport on Thursday, July 9th 2009 at 9:58

SPRAYING HERBICIDE

Saguaro National Park is alerting visitors that it has begun spraying herbicides, in order to limit invasive Buffelgrass.

Buffelgrass is classified as a noxious weed by the State of Arizona and experts say it has the potential to destroy native species, such as Saguaros and Palo Verde trees, while also increasing the threat of wildfires.

The herbicide currently used by the park is absorbed by green, actively growing leaves. If the grass is less than 50 percent, park officials say manual removal is the best method, but it’s a slow, labor-intensive process, which can’t keep up with rapidly-spreading Buffelgrass.

Saguaro National Park says it plans to treat approximately 50 miles of roadway and 450 acres of wilderness at both the east and west units. They stress it is safe to enter the area after spraying, once the herbicide dries…which takes about 30 minutes.

A blue dye is mixed with the spray to alert visitors of the treated areas.

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