Riparian restoration & basketry garden project on tribal lands

A dense French broom infestation impaired healthy ecosystem function and cultural use of the site.  In some places, broom, standing up to 15-feet high, created a solid wall, making it impossible for humans to walk into the site.  Other non-native invasives were also present, including: yellow starthistle, teasel, Italian thistle, Himalayan blackberry, and annual grasses.

Invasive plant species have negative impacts on water quality and quantity, and soil chemistry.  They alter and displace habitat for native plant and animal species, and increase fire danger. 

Brush busters swarming French broom.   

Step 1:
Brush Buster goats remove French broom, an invasive specie, on Robinson Rancheria.  Goats provide a broom "pre-treatment" to reduce plant biomass and individual plant vigor,  to reduce fire fuel load, and to increase site accessibility. 

Step 2:
Post goat treatment remnant broom treated with an organic product to prevent re-sprout.
 
Step 3:
Native perennial grasses sown and native basketry species planted.