Restoration of Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.)-Infested Floodplains on the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

Abstract

Vegetation development bordering the Middle Rio Grande, as with most major southwestern U.S. tributaries, has historically undergone rapid and dynamic change. The introduction of saltcedar (or Tamarisk, genus Tamarix) and other exotic species into this environment within the 20th century has contributed to this process. These plants are now an integral component of the riparian vegetation mix. Manpower, logistics, and financial resources constrain the degree to which a desired riparian habitat can be restored from saltcedar thickets on the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge near Socorro, NM. Saltcedar clearing is accomplished using a combination of herbicide, burning, and mechanical control techniques costing from $750 to $1,300/ha. Soil salinity and depth to water are the principal physical features limiting revegetation efforts. Cottonwood and black willow plantings and natural regeneration after timed irrigations have produced diverse habitats that support a wide array of faunal species in areas previously occupied by homogeneous saltcedar.