Monday, August 6, 2007: 1:50 PM
Blrm Salon III, San Jose Marriott
Mark K. Briggs, Acting Director, Las Cruces Office, World Wildlife Fund, Las Cruces, NM, Patrick B. Shafroth, Ft. Collins Science Center, US Geological Survey, Ft. Collins, CO, Vanessa Beauchamp, Fort Collins Science Center, US Geological Survey, Ft. Collins, CO, Kenneth Lair, DBA Lair Restoration Consulting, Hesperia, CA, Michael L. Scott, Department of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT and Anna A. Sher, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO
Riparian areas throughout the world are declining due to numerous threats, including encroachment of exotic species. In the western US, millions of dollars are being spent to control invasions of Tamarix, an introduced tree from Eurasia that has colonized bottomland ecosystems along many rivers. A project to restore Tamarix–dominated parts of the Big Bend reach of the Rio Grande is offered as a case study. The overall project has several objectives, including the improvement of wildlife habitat, enhancing sediment reintroduction, and promoting natural regeneration of native riparian plants. These objectives are similar to the aim of efforts along other rivers where improving ecological conditions is an implicit goal. Yet, in many cases, there is little emphasis on a process or principles to effectively plan restoration activities. Indeed, recent research has shown that efforts that focus solely on Tamarix removal are unsuccessful at restoring native riparian vegetation. This paper addresses the need for more careful and rigorous restoration planning in the context of Tamarix control.
We discuss in greater detail the biotic and abiotic factors central to the evaluation of potential restoration sites. While many projects begin at the implementation phase, which includes the actual removal of Tamarix, we stress the importance of pre-project planning that includes: 1) clearly identifying project goals, 2) developing realistic project objectives based on a detailed evaluation of site conditions, 3) prioritizing and selecting Tamarix control sites with the best chance of ecological recovery, and 4) developing a detailed tactical plan before Tamarix is removed.
