Last April Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills (SCFH) with input from Fountain Hills Community Services, launched a campaign to remove Globe Chamomile, known as Stinknet Weed, from the a number of sites in and around the community.

Vast swaths of the weed were found in the McDowell Mountain Preserve, Lake Overlook Trail and FH Desert Botanical Garden. It also stretched across portions of Tonto National Forest nearby.

Since that time, a small team of SCFH volunteers, supported by town staff, have created a plan to tackle non-native invasive species.  The project considers surveying, identification, location documentation and tracking, education, researching and writing grants and options for remediation. 

Stinknet has become a significant concern due to its ability to spread quickly, crowd out native vegetation and become a fire hazard.  It’s important that invasives are controlled in the community and a program will be launched to educate volunteers and residents. To learn more about Globe Chamomile, go to scfh.org/education.

Anyone interested in learning more about these non-native invasive plants, their impact to open spaces, homes and local community, working with an HOA, and what individuals can do and how to help, send an email with name and contact number to contact scfh@gmail.com and put NNIPP in the subject line. Those interested in becoming a volunteer go to scfh.org/volunteer.

Additionally, SCFH is preparing training sessions for volunteers for its normal operations in the community. From 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, SCFH is offering training for new and returning stewards and hosts. This session is to review what’s required for those volunteers. Those who are new to volunteering with SCFH should visit SCFH.org/volunteer and complete the form for new volunteers. Someone with the conservancy will follow up on the application.

The Times Independent invites readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Bob Burns can be reached at bburns@iniusa.org.