In the latter part of the 19th century, species of the nonna­tive shrub tamarisk (also called saltcedar;) were introduced to the United States for use as ornamental plants and for erosion control.  According to the USGS, the period of tamarisk invasion coincided with changing physical conditions along western rivers associated with the construction and operation of dams. “In many cases, these altered physical conditions appear to have been more favorable for tamarisk than native riparian competitors like cottonwoods and willows (Populus and Salix; Glenn and Nagler, 2005).” >Read More

Tags: altered, channel, condition, controls, freshwater, nonnative, restoration, rivers, saltcedar, shrub, streams, tamarisk, u.s., western, wetlands