The fast-growing reed Arundo Donax is swamping Southern California beaches

VENTURA, California (CNN) -- The days of El Niño rains are long gone, but its effects are still being felt along vast stretches of beach overrun by a giant, bamboo-like weed.

The Arundo Donax plant, or giant reed, is destroying native species and ruining the landscape.

"It's the weed from hell," said Ventura resident Jerry Rebard.

"It's terrible. It cuts your feet when you're coming in," a surfer complained.

Normally, the plant wouldn't be within miles of a Southern California beach. But the Mediterranean plant was brought to the state more the 60 years ago to help control riverbank erosion.

For that purpose, the fast-growing plant did its job -- but its success has turned to excess.

This year, it's especially bad, because heavy winter rains carried the quick-rooting reed fragments from mountain rivers to ocean beaches, where they thrive.

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"It's certainly no fault of anybody. This is something that comes down the river. I guess I'll blame El Niño," Ventura Mayor Jim Friedman said.

The plant is throwing a wrench in the local economy, which relies heavily on tourism dollars. City and state officials are splitting the cost of herbicides and manual labor to eradicate the bothersome weed, which can grow as much as 2 inches a day.

They're finding the battle to be extremely tough.

"It's Bermuda grass on a giant scale," said Wes Chapin of the California Department of Parks and Recreation. "If you've ever had Bermuda grass invade your lawn, you know how hard it is to get out."

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