State Parks unveils online story map, calls jubata and pampas grass removal a "winnable battle"

California State Parks told the Monterey County Byways Committee on a presentation that it has produced an online ArcGIS story map to educate residents, visitors and landowners about invasive jubata and pampas grasses and how to help remove them. Liz Smith, an intern with California State Parks’ Monterey District, led the presentation and said the story map is intended to be shared widely online and incorporated into local outreach.

The story map explains how jubata and pampas—ornamental plants brought from South America—escaped cultivation, spread along the coast and outcompete native plants. Smith said the map includes interactive layers showing large infestation polygons and points and that a parcel-level layer can be provided to managers who request it. “Aidan Sarbeck…is the owner of the content,” Smith said, and she offered to place his contact information in the meeting chat for anyone who wants access to the map.

Smith walked the committee through educational features: before/after slider photos, identification cues, suggestions for native plant alternatives, and practical removal guidance. The presentation warned that a single jubata plume can produce large numbers of viable seeds and urged people not to transport plumes as floral decorations. “If removed properly, it won’t persist in the environment for a long time. This is definitely a winnable battle,” Smith said.

Committee members and agency partners described current control efforts and next steps. State Parks noted it is mapping infestations in cooperation with the Byways organization. In steep or inaccessible sites, staff said they are testing drone-assisted detection and, in some pilot projects, drone spraying; two park staff are pursuing drone operator licensing, and Parks said it is evaluating whether to operate drones directly in future work. Parks described volunteer removal as a safe, effective tactic when done using gloves, long clothing and secure disposal of plumes and plant material.

Local partners raised coordination needs. Sarah Harvey (participating remotely) and others asked that the story map include clearer guidance for private landowners about how to join coordinated eradication efforts, and several speakers asked Parks to provide QR codes and a shareable link so hotels and visitor organizations can distribute the material. Alyssa from CMONterey said the tourism organization plans to include the map in its “How to Highway 1” visitor messaging.

State Parks and local partners also discussed follow-up actions: providing the parcel-level data on request to land managers, offering volunteer training events, and convening the invasive-subcommittee to coordinate cross‑jurisdictional work. John (Caltrans representative) confirmed Caltrans and the Resource Conservation District have been active with private landowners on eradication projects and said his office will continue to participate in the subcommittee.

The committee did not take a formal vote on funding or a new program during the meeting; the presentation was for information and coordination.

Ending: Committee members thanked State Parks for the resource and asked staff to circulate the story map link and contact information for Aidan Sarbeck. Several speakers asked Parks and local groups to pursue QR-code signage for high‑visitor locations and to provide volunteer training materials that explain safe removal and disposal practices.