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Show THE ZEPHYRJANUARY-FEBRUAR- Y 1993 PAGE 25 ; i I i Tamarisk Control (cont.) now the Nature Conservancy joins the NPS in its war against the weed k i 3 t i i a i i 4 i i 1 1 i i 1 i When it comes to lame issues for the Lame Issue, there is none lamer than tamarisk control. It has been some time since a discussion of the National Park Service's misguided attempts to control the dreaded exotic plant has graced these pages. Recently, however, the Nature Conservancy has joined the circus when it announced in October that it intended to wage war against tamarisk at the Scott Matheson Preserve, north of Moab. Just to give the reader a quick refresher. Tamarisk is an exotic plant that was brought to this country almost a century ago from the Mediterranean to control erosion along canals in southern California. It rapidly spread north along the Colorado River, pushing out native plants along the way. It is virtually indestructible, grows back even more vigorously after fire, and can only be killed with repeated doses of toxic herbicides. According to Joel Tuehy, of the Nature Conservancy, efforts to control the weed are not likely to be as ambitious or successful as their press release might suggest. Even so, the Conservancy received a grant of $3--4 thousand for the project, and concentrated on stands of tamarisk near Mill Creek where the growth wasn't as dense. State prison crews spent several days cutting the 10 to 20 foot plants; later the stumps were treated with the herbicide Garlon IV. However, according to a Park Service representative, the Nature Conservancy failed to apply the Garlon within the limited time the poison is effective after cutting, and in diluted concentrations. In other words, as difficult as it is to kill tamarisk, this particular effort was, most likely, a waste of everyone's time and $3-- 4 thousand. And as Tuehy himself said, "Controlling tamarisk is a forever project." Meanwhile, Arches National Park continues to expend more time and money on its pet project at Salt Valley Spring. Its efforts to "control" tamarisk have left the area looking like a No Man's Land scenario from World War I. If nothing else tamarisk did reduce erosion along that section of Salt Valley Wash. When a massive flash flood swept through the area this October, the denuded banks were swept away as well. Vertical walls 5 to 7 feet high were carved out by the flood. New gullies and rivulets are everywhere, and tons of soil was washed downstream. On higher ground, above the flooding, the only plant thriving in the tamarisk's place is, ironically, Russian Thistle (or tumbleweed), the most despised exotic plant ever imported to this country. Farther downstream, the Park Service continues to do battle with its mortal enemy. Cut tamarisk which was poisoned at least once, has grown back to heights exceeding 6 feet in places. Another dose of Garlon and they might finally kill this stand so that when the next flash flood roars by, it can carry that section of bank away too. And while the NPS wages its costly war on exotic plants and performs $70,000 jobs, and prepares to spend millions more on new housing in the Needles District of Canyonlands, proposed budget cuts have park managers so worried, there is serious talk of cutting several seasonal ranger positions next year. And at a recent staff meeting, a plan to close the Devils Garden campground during 1993 was given consideration as a way to save money. Where are you, Ross Perot? At Salt Valley Spring Tumbleweed has replaced tamarisk as the predominant plant. Rivulets and gullies cut by the recent flooding. Jim Stiles i j i i t photography by Aimee Kelly t Regrowth of cut and poisoned tamarisk |
