Outreach Summary

SF Environment maintains a mailing list of San Francisco invasive weed stakeholders (land managers, non-profits etc.), disseminating information to this community. Contact peter.brastow@sfgov.org to be added to the list.

   Publications

• • The San Francisco “Six” – The City’s Worst Wildland Weeds brochure (found at http://sfwma.org).

Project Highlights

Priority Weed Management at Mount Sutro and the Presidio (2026-)

Presidio of San Francisco

The Presidio Trust, working with Habitat Potential, is treating designated cape ivy, Delairea oderata, patches in riparian areas of the Presidio. Crews are opening up dense vegetation to allow access for mechanical treatment of cape ivy. Access and containment lines have been cut, surrounding 75% of the Dragonfly Creek infestation. An estimated 70% of the cape ivy has been removed, using chainsaws to provide access, and hand-tools to remove cape ivy.  Containment lines will prevent the spread while work continues for the next two years. Since cape ivy can re-sprout from small segments left in or on the ground, follow-up work in the next two years will be essential. Cutting access and containment lines has increased water flow and reduced vegetation density at Dragonfly Creek, making it more hospitable to birds and other wildlife and improving the health of the creek. 

Mount Sutro

Sutro Stewards, in partnership with SF Recreation and Parks Department and UCSF, is restoring Woodland Canyon Creek on Mount Sutro. Staff and volunteers are removing an acre of cape ivy in the lower watershed. Clearing cape ivy will provide space for the strategic planting of native species to enhance biodiversity and prevent erosion and head-cutting. Reducing overgrown vegetation will open up the seasonal creek, making it more accessible to wildlife. To date, 1,734 square feet of weeds have been pulled. 

Dittrichia viscosa eradication at Hunter’s Point Shipyard (2021-)

To eradicate Dittrichia viscosa from Hunter’s Point Shipyard, one of only two or three known populations in North America. This species is of the highest priority for eradication. It was very established at the Shipyard. The San Francisco Agricultural Commissioner’s office (housed in the Department of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health) has been coordinating with the Navy, SF Environment, the California Invasive Plant Council, and weed management contractors to collaboratively address this problem.

Algerian Sea Lavender Management at Heron’s Head Park and Southeast San Francisco (2020)

To continue knocking back Limonium ramosissimum from the saltmarshes of San Francisco as part of the larger Baywide management program by the Invasive Spartina Project.

Initial Priority Weed Assessment and Strategic Plan Update (2010)

To assemble existing information across jurisdictions about top priority weed species in both tabular and basic geographic format, and in doing so to strengthen our interconnected multi-agency collaboration. Project objectives were to establish communication system among all county weed professionals, create initial report/extent of priority weeds in the county, and update SFMWA Strategic Plan. Methods of performance are the number of new members in the WMA and create a contact list of county wide weed professionals, all MOU members and other weed management entities create share all their weed data, and have a current strategic plan representing consensus among participants of county’s goals.

Endangered Species Habitat Restoration on Twin Peaks (2009)

To eliminate a major infestation of invasive weeds, including principally, French broom, cape and English ivies, gorse and cotoneaster from within and adjacent to a core critical section of endangered species habitat. Project objectives were the elimination of invasives, educate public about invasives, and initiate long term volunteer stewardship program. Methods for control were combination of mechanical equipment, hand removal, power tools, herbicide and goats.

Potential Organizations to sign the new 2025 MOU

• California Department of Transportation 
• California Invasive Plant Council 
• California Native Plant Society, Yerba Buena Chapter 
• California State Parks 
• Golden Gate Bird Alliance 
• Habitat Potential 
• Livable City 
• Literacy for Environmental Justice 
• National Park Service (GGNRA) 
• Nature in the City 
• Port of San Francisco 
• Presidio Trust 
• San Francisco Department of Public Health (including the office of the County Agricultural Commissioner) 
• San Francisco Environment 
• San Francisco Public Utilities Commission 
• San Francisco Public Works 
• San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department 
• Sutro Stewards 
• Treasure Island Development Authority 

Organizations on SFWMA’s original 2005 MOU

• SF Agricultural Commissioner
• SF Fire Department
• SF Recreation and Parks
• SF Environment
• SF Public Utilities Commission
• California State Parks
• National Park Service
• Presidio Trust
• Daar/IPM
• California Invasive Plant Council
• California Native Plant Society
• Nature in the City