RaggedTop Diversity Wash on IFNM

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Botanists have determined that the greatest diversity of native plant species on Ironwood Forest is found in a one-mile stretch of wash on the west side of RaggedTop.  AZNPS volunteers found that the wash was heavily infested with bermudagrass that was displacing native plants. In 2010 AZNPS volunteers made 5 successive sprays of the Bermuda grass and three sprays in 2011. By 2012 the bermudagrass had been reduced to less than 10 square meters and native plant growth had quickly grown back. Volunteers currently continue to spot spray Diversity Wash at least once a year. Most notable native plant recovery has been abundant stands of native Deergrass and Alkali Sacaton.