Mitigate Endangered Bird Habitat Prior Tamarisk Defoliation by the Northern Tamarisk Beetle Project Award
Number: P17AC00904-0001-B001
Non-federal partner: The Arboretum at Flagstaff
Federal partner: National Park Service
Location of project: Grand Canyon National Park
Principal investigator: Dr. Kristin E. Haskins
Top middle: Project site clearing
Top right: Project site clearing
Bottom left: Planting crew
Bottom right: Native cottonwoods and willows
Description of project: The Arboretum at Flagstaff, in partnership with Grand Canyon National Park and Mariposa Consulting, is conducting restoration work at two sites along the Colorado River: Cardenas and the Grand Canyon Youth (GCY) Camp. The goals at Cardenas are to remove invasive tamarisk, also known as salt cedar, (Tamarix spp.) and replace the removed vegetation with native cottonwoods and willows. Additionally, the project will support the removal of another invasive species, pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium). Post-planting monitoring and the implementation of repeat photography from established photopoints will provide important feedback on restoration methods and success. These activities will improve both the natural environment and the habitat for the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), an endangered species.
Project start/end dates: July 18, 2017–December 21, 2019
Project cost: $83,785
Project successes: Work along the Colorado River can be difficult due to logistics, but rewarding beyond belief! Without the help of many volunteers and National Park Service staff, this project would not be possible.
Student support: Coreen Walsh, an NAU graduate student, went down with the crew in January as a volunteer to document the project on video.