FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CWN Launches "NIIMBY"
No Invasives In My Back Yard!

Carlsbad, CA, 7-1-05 - As part California Weed Awareness Week, July 18-24, 2005, the Carlsbad Watershed Network is launching "No Invasives In My Back Yard" (NIIMBY) a call to action for area residents to identify and remove invasive plants on their property. In June 2003, the CA State Legislature adopted resolution (ACR No. 114) that designates the third Monday of July as Weed Awareness Week.

To educate local stakeholders, tours will be held at two removal sites on July 19, & 20 th. Senator Bill Morrow (confirmed), and Assemblyman Mark Wyland (TBC) will make welcoming remarks at two separate project sites to launch Project NIIMBY. Invitations have been sent to local decision makers, non-profit organizations and residents. Awards will be given to a City, a public employee, a non-profit organization and individuals who have been exemplary in their dedication to the issue of invasive plants.

According to National Geographic, invasive species cost the US economy $200 billion each year. Locally in San Diego County, we are spending an estimated $10 million to remove invasive from our rivers and waterways.

NIIMBYis a crucial part of the regional effort to eradicate invasive plants in the Carlsbad Watershed. To truly rid the county of invasive plants, we must remove them from our "backyards" or these plants, within a few decades, will once again take over hundreds of acres of natural habitat.

In 2004, the Carlsbad Watershed Network (CWN), received 3.9 M of Prop 13 funds to eradicate the invasive weeds that choke the local creeks of the Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit (CHU), displace natural habitat, create massive accumulations of plant materials that can cause flooding and become a source to fuel wild fires. More than 450 acres of this 210 sq. mile area are invaded by these unwanted plants.

While the project has removed almost 150 acres of invasive plants on the Escondido, San Marcos, Agua Hedionda, Buena Vista and Loma Alta Creeks , there is still more to do. Because many of theses species are dispersed by human activities, citizens can help prevent new weed infestations and combat those already in place by removing and discarding invasive plants in their back yards.

For more information on CWN's Invasive Plant Removal project or Project NIIMBY, please visit the website at http://www.Carlsbadwatershednetwork.org or call Doug Gibson at 760-803-4824.

Event information:

July 19th - 10 a.m. The Encinas Watershed, in the parking lot of Costco in Carlsbad off of Palomar Airport Road, on the east end of The Costco gas station. The staging area is located in the open space east of the gas station

July 20th - 10 a.m. The Escondido Creek Watershed at the Elfin Forest Preserve on Harmony Grove Rd. Directions: Take the Valley Parkway exit off of 15 West, turn On Auto Parkway, go left on Howard Ave and a right on Harmony Grove. Stay on Harmony Grove Rd. for approx. 5 miles, you will pass the Residential area. Turn left at the Elfin Forest Preserve sign.
Meet at the parking lot.

Further information:
Attendance: Merle Okino O'Neill 760-505-9649

Press: Doug Gibson: 760-436-3944
Carlsbad Watershed Network
Invasives Plant Removal Project
Email: dg@sanelijo.org