In 1994 Challenge Cost Share money was provided to continue the funding of this project. The work was continued in 1995 with the same funding source. In 1996 no money was available to fund the CCC although they did donate several days in the spring. The cut-stump treatment can be a useful tool in the fight against saltcedar but its effectiveness is dependent upon the quality and reliability of the workforce. Three sources of hand labor have been used on the Kern Complex, volunteers, prison crews, and the California Conservation Corps crews.
Individual crews have their strengths and weaknesses.
Many times a volunteer work force will be more effective because they may have a greater motivation to kill the plant and improve the habitat than a prison crew. Depending upon the location, volunteers to do this type of high intensity labor may be difficult to find. Therefore, a prison crew or an organization such as the California Conservation Corp may provide a more dependable labor source for projects which will span longer periods of time. When working with volunteers or groups which may only work occasionally, it is important to keep the crew motivated. If the project is so large that it is overwhelming, keeping the crew motivated will be difficult.