Control Area For Giant Reed (Cane) Grass Arundo donax in Oregon 

603-052-1207 

Definitions 

As used in OAR 603-052-1207 to 603-052-1212 unless the context requires otherwise: 

(1) “Giant reed” or “giant cane grass” means the plant species Arundo donax L. For 

purposes of this rule the term “giant reed” or “giant cane grass” applies to whole 

plants, plant parts, rhizomes, and seeds. For purposes of this rule, “giant reed” or 

“gaint cane grass” does not include variegated varieties of giant reed as defined in 

subsection (4) of this section. 

(2) “Feral” gaint reed means whole plants of the plant species Arundo donax growing 

outside of permitted production areas or as otherwise inconsistent with this rule. 

(3) “Special Flood Hazard Area” means an area inundated during the 1% annual flood 

(also known as 100-year flood) as determined from the January 2011 version of the 

Flood Insurance Rate Maps of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 

available through the Department of Land Conservation and Development at 

<oregonriskmap.com>. 

(4) “Variegated varieties of giant reed” means horticultural varieties of Arundo donax

with striped or spotted leaves. Variegated varieties may include but are not limited to 

varieties marketed as “Peppermint Stick”, “Variegata,” and “Golden Chain,” or other 

ornamental varieties that can be visually distinguished from “gaint reed” or “giant 

cane grass.” 

(5) “Water body” includes lakes, bays, ponds, impounding reservoirs, springs, rivers, 

streams, creeks, estuaries, marshes, wetlands as defined in ORS 196.800(16), inlets, 

canals, irrigation ditches, drainage ditches, and all other bodies of surface waters, 

natural or artificial, inland or coastal, fresh or salt, public or private, which are wholly 

or partially within or bordering the state or within its jurisdiction. 

603-052-1209 

Purpose 

Giant reed, Arundo donax, is a promising bio-energy crop because of its high biomass 

yield. It is also grown as an ornamental and as a source of reeds for woodwind 

instruments. Giant reed is highly invasive in riparian areas in some regions of the United 

States such as California, Texas, and Florida. It is the intent and purpose of OAR 603-

052-1207 to 603-052-1212 to balance goals to develop new agricultural crops and 

support renewable energy development from agricultural feedstocks while protecting 

natural resources and preventing the establishment of giant reed in riparian areas where it 

could cause major negative impacts to the natural resources of the State of Oregon. 

603-052-1212 

Control Area 

(1) As authorized by ORS 570.405, a statewide control area is established to reduce the 

risk of uncontrolled spread of giant reed into the environment in order to protect the 

horticultural, agricultural or forest industries of the state. 

(2) Extent of Control Area: All of the State of Oregon. 
 

(3) Commodities Covered: All life stages of giant reed, Arundo donax. 

(4) Prohibited Acts 

a. Giant reed is prohibited from being imported, planted, propagated, or grown 

except as allowed in this rule in sections (5) through (7) below. 

b. Giant reed shall not be planted or grown near water bodies as defined in OAR 

603-052-1207(4). Where giant cane is invasive, primary dispersal is by 

movement of rhizome and stem fragments in floods. To prevent flood dispersal, 

giant reed must not be planted or grown within the special flood hazard area (100-

year flood) of any water body as “special flood hazard area” is defined in OAR 

603-052-1207(3). There are no fixed setback from bodies of water where the 

planting or growing of giant reeed is prohibited as flood hazard areas vary in 

width and shape depending on terrain and other factors. The prohibition in this 

subsection applies consistently with the definition of “special flood hazard area” 

as this may be determined from the January 2011 FEMA risk map. 

(5) Permit Requirements 

a. Except as specified in OAR 603-053-1212(7)(b), giant reed shall not be planted or 

grown in Oregon without a permit from the Oregon Department of Agriculture 

(ODA). 

b. Applications for a permit must be in writing to ODA and include specific 

locations and detailed maps of the field locations and any water bodies in the 

vicinity of all proposed field locations. Applications for a permit to produce giant 

reed must be sent to: Plant Program Area Director, Oregon Department of 

Agriculture, 635 Capitol St. NE, Salem, OR 97304 or emailed to: 

<dhilburn@oda.state.or.us>. 

c. ODA will review the application upon its receipt and share the application 

information with noxious weed control officials in the county(ies) were 

production of giant reed is grown or proposed to be grown. 

d. ODA may deny an application or may issue a permit with any conditions as may 

be necessary to prevent the uncontrolled spread of giant reed or as necessary to 

protect the horticultural, agricultural or forest industries of the state. Conditions 

that ODA may require include but are not limited to conditions requiring 

notification to ODA of the dates when giant reed fields are planted and are taken 

out of production, annual updates on field locations, or any other precautions 

related to site-specific risk factors presented by a proposed growing location. 

e. Any equipment used in giant reed production fields must be cleaned free of soil 

and plant debris prior to leaving production fields. 

f. Planting stock from outside of Oregon is prohibited unless it is produced via 

tissue culture (in vitro). In-state producers of biofuel planting stock are subject to 

the same requirements as biofuel producers. 

g. Conditioning (crushing) and drying harvested giant reed plant material in the field 

to reduce cane viability and baling of the material before transport in covered 

containers is required. 
 

h. ODA may enter into a contract with any person seeking to plant or produce giant 

reed pursuant to a permit issued by ODA. Any contract may require a permit 

holder to pay an annual assessment of $2.00 per acre to ODA for the cost of 

monitoring fields where giant reed is produced under a permit and for surveys of 

riparian areas in the vicinity of permitted production fields. Monitoring and 

surveys are necessary to ensure that giant reed has not escaped outside of 

permitted production areas and is necessary for enforcing the terms of the control 

area established in this rule. 

 

(6) Bond; Conditions for Ceasing Production of Giant Reed 

a. Any holder of a permit for the production of giant reed for other than ornamental 

or woodwind reed purposes (see (8) below) must post a bond or another form of 

acceptable collateral of $100/acre up to a maximum of $1,000,000 with the 

Dapartment of Agriculture. The purpose of the bond is to cover any and all costs 

associated with the detection and eradication of giant reed inside or outside of 

production fields if the Department determines feral giant reed must be eradicated 

in order to protect the agricultureal, horticultural or forest resources of the State. 

The bond must be in place for the duration of permitted production and remain 

effective for 2 years afer permitted produciton ceases. 

b. The holder of a permit for the production of giant reed that ceases production of 

giant reed, must completely eradicate giant reed in a manner that prevents 

unmanaged fields from becoming a source of propagules that could lead to 

accidental spread of giant reed in the wild. 

c. Any holder of a permit issued by ODA must monitor any and all areas upon 

which giant reed was produced under a permit for at least two years after 

production ceases to ensure that all giant reed plants are killed and any source of 

propagules are eradicated. ODA may require additional monitoring time as it 

determines is necessary to assure complete eradication of giant reed from areas 

permitted for production. 

d. Any and all costs associated with eradicaiton of giant reed in production fields 

and adjacent property owned or controlled by the producer after production has 

ceased is the responsibility of the permit holder. 

e. Oregon State University Research and Extension Certers are exempt from 

sections (5)(h) and (6)(a) of this rule for the purpose of allowing research related 

to giant reed production and control. 

 (7) Conditions for Ornamental and Woodwind Reed Plantings 

Giant reed has been used as an ornamental plant in Oregon for many years. It is also 

grown as a source for woodwind reeds. Ornamental or woodwind reed plantings 

could result in feral populations. In order to lower the risk of ornamental or 

woodwind reed plants becoming feral, giant reed is being phased out of the nursery 

trade. Variegated varieties such as “Peppermint Stick,” “Variegata,” and “Golden 

Chain,” may continue to be grown and sold in Oregon unless ODA and State Weed 

Board list giant reed as a noxious weed. Variegated varieties are less hardy and less 

likely to become invasive. 
 

(a) After December 31, 2013, only variegated varities of giant reed may be sold in 

Oregon for ornamental or woodwind reed purposes. 

(b) A permit is not required for ornamental or woodwind reed plantings of variegated 

varieties of giant reed totaling less than 1⁄4 acre. 

(c) Ornamental and woodwind reed plantings of giant reed existing before these rules 

were adopted will not be considered feral unless they are in Special Flood Hazard 

Areas or the ODA determines such populations are becoming invasive. Any 

plantings of giant reed or variegated varieties of giant reed over 1⁄4 acres are 

subject to the permitting requirements in OAR 603-052-1212(5). 

(d) If the ODA and the State Weed Board determine giant reed is a noxious weed, all 

ornamental and non-permited uses of giant reed shall terminate. 

 

(8) Eradication and Control of Giant Reed 

a. Except as stated in (7) above, ODA considers giant reed plants detected outside of 

permitted production fields as feral plants which shall be eradicated or controlled. 

b. Any person owning or occupying property upon which feral giant reed is detected 

must contact the ODA within 48 hours of detection. 

c. Upon detection of feral giant reed, ODA may develop a survey, eradication, and 

monitoring plan to control or eradicate detected feral giant reed. Consistent with 

its authorities, ODA may develop and conduct appropriate measures to control or 

eradicate feral giant reed, may enter into a contract for the purpose of controlling 

or eradicating feral giant reed, or take any measures necessary to control or 

eradicate feral giant reed consistent with law. 

d. Control or eradication of feral giant reed may be implemented at no cost to a 

person owning or controlling land within this state upon which feral giant reed is 

detected. However, ODA may request any person owning or controlling land 

within this state to control, prevent the spread of, or eradicate feral giant reed, 

subject to supervision of such activities by ODA. 

e. If ODA is unable to control or eradicate feral giant reed on private property, then 

consistent with the provision of ORS 570.405(2), any person owning or 

controlling land within this state must take measures to eliminate or prevent the 

possibility of spread of feral giant reed to other lands and ownerships. Control 

measures for feral giant reed must be implemented in a timely manner as 

determined by ODA. Treatments must provide sufficient levels of control to 

make progress toward the goal of eradication. 

(9) Review 

Before December 31, 2022, the Department will conduct a thorough review of the 

effectivness and necessity for this rule. If by that date giant reed has not been 

declared a noxious weed by ODA and the State Weed Board, the bond/collateral 

requirement (6)(a) sunsets unless specifically extended via amendment to this rule.