Saguaro National Park outside Tucson plans to resume herbicide spraying on parts of the park where invasive buffelgrass has become established.
Park officials say the increase in moisture provided by monsoon rains has created optimal conditions for ground crews to apply herbicide on buffelgrass in an effort to improve conditions for native plants.
Buffelgrass is not only invasive but highly flammable, and park officials say it can help small fires spread out of control and engulf native plants.
It also forces out native plants, wildlife habitat and food.
Plans call ground crews to treat approximately 50 miles of roadway and 50 acres of park land in the Tucson and Rincon mountains during the next two to three months.
The work will continue later with aerial spraying.