Page 12 - e-news 2020

Reclaim Your Grasslands, Wetlands,

and Streams from Invasive Trees

Top: An area of land before the removal of invasive trees. Bottom: The same Rattlesnake Creek bank post-tree removal.

When invasive shrubs and trees such as Russian olive and tamarisk (saltcedar) — as well as other invasives
like Siberian elm, locust and eastern red cedar — grow and spread outside their historical range, there can be
impacts to the local economy, natural resources and recreational use of the land. Invasive trees affect forage
production, water resources, herbaceous plant communities, wildlife habitat and hunting.

How do invasive trees impact the land?
• They can reduce soil moisture, groundwater and stream flows.
• The invasives outcompete and displace native plants that benefit livestock forage and wildlife habitat.
• They trap sediment in stream channels — altering streambanks, narrowing channels, reducing water-
holding capacity and connectivity of streams to wetlands.
• Tamarisk absorbs and concentrates salt in leaves and stems and redistributes it to the soil surface,
preventing desirable plant growth.

How can removing invasive trees
benefit you and your operation?
Removing invasives can:
• improve water resources and the local ecosystem
• increase forage quality and production
• reduce the risk of wildfire
• restore wildlife habitat
• allow for more recreational opportunities Sandhill Cranes use land cleared of invasive trees.