Ability to Respond Total:4 / 25Ability to Respond = ( Ease of Response + Tools in Place )
Confidence:Medium
Confidence Notes:
Impact
Spread
Notes
Score
Spread Rate
Populations in desert have been increasing especially near Coachella Valley. New populations are regularly discovered far from original infestation in Coachella Valley, as well as in Borrego Springs in San Diego County, and in Pt. Mugu in Ventura County
5
Spread Amount
This species occupies a vast portion of the Mediterranean, Middle East and North Africa, also found invading in South Africa.
4
Damage
Notes
Score
Ecological
Can form dense stands, can add fine flashy fuels to desert areas where fuels are limited. It should be able to invade inland areas and reduce wildflowers and habitat.
4
Agricultural
Could reduce rangeland forage as it the long awns likely make for poor forage once flowering
1
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
If it carries fires in desert areas could cause damage to Native American artifacts and cultural sites.
1
Health
0
Benefit
Notes
Score
Ecological
0
Agricultural
Could provide some livestock forage, however this is speculative as to how much benefit this forage would have as the awns would prove harmful to livestock.
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
0
Health
0
Total
15
Ability to Respond
Ease of Response
Notes
Score
Detection
Very difficult to detect. It does not appear different from many other annual grasses until the end of the season when it is fully in flower. Hard to differentiate until flowering to seeds maturity
1
Control
Moderately difficult to control. Individual plants can be pulled or sprayed easily. It grows well in inaccessible areas where accessing sites is difficult, or in and around in rocks in desert where management is difficult.
