BLM begins tamarisk cleanup project, hopes to reduce fire threat
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    In many areas, the normally green tamarisk trees along the Colorado Riverway are yellow this year. The yellow colored trees can be seen sporadically from the boat ramp below Potash to upriver past Dewey Bridge. The change in color is due to the Diorhabda elongota beetles, a species released three years ago that feed solely on tamarisk, and have been munching steadily on the trees.

    Tamarisk (or salt cedar) plants, initially introduced to reduce bank erosion along streams, have spread throughout much of the warmer sections of the west. An aggressive invader, tamarisk crowds out native plants, degrades wildlife habitat and dramatically reduces stream flows.

    The beetles were brought in as a bio-control agent by Grand County Weed Department and Utah State Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. Extensive tests in controlled areas have shown that tamarisk plants, while able to produce new leaves from root reserves, are expected to begin dying after repeated defoliation. The beetles were first released along the Colorado River in 2004.

    Now agency officials are confronting the question of how to deal with the dead and dying tamarisks. The dying trees have increased the potential for fire along the river banks, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has now announced that it will initiate a multi-step plan to restore the ecosystem of the Colorado Riverway and reduce the fire hazard.  

    First on the list is a fire restriction for the Colorado Riverway (see related story on page B2). The lands that will be addressed by the restriction order include BLM managed lands from Dewey Bridge to the end of state Route 279 within a quarter mile of the center of the river.  No fires will be allowed in the campgrounds. The only exception will be stoves and lanterns that run on liquid propane gas.

    Beginning May 25, the Kings Bottom campground was closed for maintenance. The campground will be re-opened after tamarisk clean-up efforts have been completed, BLM officials said. Other campgrounds along the river may be closed sporadically for additional tamarisk clean-up, the agency said.  

    BLM and private contract crews are also using a combination of methods to remove the ailing tamarisk, including thinning, hand cutting, chipping, piling and winter pile burning.  

    "These are just the first steps towards the restoration of the native vegetation," said BLM Branch of Recreation Chief, Russ von Koch. BLM officials say this will be a long process and it will take time before results can fully be appreciated.  

    For more information about tamarisk eradication see www.tamariskcoalition.org.  For additional information regarding this project, wildfires or restrictions visit the fire information website at www.utahfireinfo.gov.
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