Sonoran Desert Weedwackers

The Weedwackers are dedicated to removing buffelgrass and other invasives from Tucson Mountain Park. They work every third Saturday of the month year-round for about three hours. Originally the Weedwackers were supported by the Desert Museum. Pima County began supplying van transportation, bags, tools and gloves in 2002, and, since 2005, has also been helping with publicity. The Weedwackers could not continue without the support of Pima County personnel, including Doug Siegel and others. The Arizona Native Plant Society has also supported the Weedwackers from the beginning by paying for brochures and road signs.

Average Number of Volunteers for Saturday Events:
depends on the season, 12-15 during the school year, 8-12 during the summer, 470 people on the e-list.

Meeting time:
3rd Saturday of every month

Location of pulls:
Tucson Mountain Park. Initial work was carried out near the Desert Museum, and included clearing all of the washes above and below the Museum. The group then concentrated on the roadsides throughout the park. Since 2007, most of the effort has been directed towards clearing large infestations on the upper slopes of Tucson Mountains. In 2006 and 2008 much time was spent clearing a huge patch on the south face of Brown Mountain. For six months in 2007-2008 volunteers cleared the Trail’s End Wash, which was completely choked with fountain grass and buffelgrass. In March of 2009 weedwackers found the wash mostly clear of invasive grasses.

Marilyn Hanson mfhanson@comcast.net
Doug Siegel, Natural Resource Specialist, Pima County Natural Resources Parks & Recreation, 520-724-5177, doug.siegel@pima.gov