Title
Apply for Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management Invasive Plant Grant (Ordinance S-52768) - Citywide
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for, and if awarded, enter into an agreement for the disbursement of funding from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management Invasive Plant Grant to target and treat areas infested with invasive plants in the Parks and Recreation Department. Further request to authorize the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item. The total grant funds received will not exceed $200,000. Projects require matching funds between 10 and 30 percent.
Report
Summary
The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department is seeking funding to implement targeted treatment and long-term management of non-native invasive plant species that threaten the ecological integrity of our desert parks and preserves. Invasive plants disrupt watershed function by increasing water consumption, accelerating erosion, and reducing groundwater recharge in a region already facing significant water scarcity. The most challenging invasive plants in our preserve currently are Stinknet (Oncosiphon pilulifer), Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris), Fountaingrass (Cenchrus setaceus) and Cheeseweed (Malva parviflora), to name a few.
Invasive plants degrade wildlife habitat by displacing the native vegetation communities that support desert pollinators, migratory birds, and other sensitive species. Their aggressive growth patterns allow them to compete with native plants for light, nutrients, and water, leading to a loss of biodiversity and diminished ecological resilience. Without intervention, these changes will continue to compromise the health of our natural areas, reduce recreational and educational value for residents, and increase long-term management costs.
Grant funding will enable the City to expand early detection and rapid response efforts, implement treatment strategies, and restore native plant communities across priority sites. This investment will protect critical habitat and preserve the ecological character of Phoenix’s parks and preserves for future generations. Multiple locations within the Natural Resources Division have identified specific priority areas of concern:
Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area
- Central Avenue Gateway Trailhead.
- 7th Avenue Trailhead.
Papago Park
Phoenix Mountains Preserve
- North Mountain Visitor Center.
- Piestewa Peak.
- Dreamy Draw.
Phoenix Sonoran Preserve
- Apache Wash Trailhead.
- Desert Hills Trailhead.
Financial Impact
A project-based 10 to 30 percent funding match is required. The match will be provided via in-kind volunteer hours. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Cynthia Aguilar and the Parks and Recreation Department.