arkwipp - Tamarisk Coalition

Learn More About Watershed Health
and Riparian Restoration at:
www.tamariskcoalition.org
www.riparianrestorationconnection.com
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ARKWIPP
ARKansas River Watershed Invasive Plants Partnership
Working Toward A Restored
Arkansas River Watershed Riparian Ecosystem
The Problem with Tamarisk & Russian-olive
Control Methods
Riparian Restoration
Educational Opportunities
Partnership Opportunities
Tamarisk Biocontrol Information
Research & Resource Materials
And much more!
Photo Courtesy of NRCS
Photos Courtesy of CSFS
Photos Courtesy of CSFS
Tamarisk in bloom.
Photo courtesy of Tamarisk Coalition
For Information about ARKWIPP
Please Contact:
Colorado State Forest Service,
La Junta District
719-383-5780
The shared vision is an overall Arkansas River Watershed
restored as a thriving and diverse riparian ecosystem with
minimal infestations of
non-native, woody invasive species.
A Joint Effort
Tamarisk in the Arkansas River Watershed
In August of 2007, land managers within the Arkansas River Basin came
together to address the watershed’s riparian areas impacted by non-native,
invasive trees, principally tamarisk (tamarix spp., aka salt cedar) and
Russian-olive (Elaeagnus angustinfolia). From this meeting, the
Arkansas River Watershed Invasive Plants Partnership (ARKWIPP) was
created, bringing together over 10 smaller partnerships within the Basin.
The goal was for the partners to continue to maintain and manage their
own projects, but to also create an overarching partnership that would
strengthen and support existing partnerships within the Basin.
ARKWIPP geographically focuses on the Arkansas River watershed
in southeastern Colorado. The Arkansas River watershed, at 26,286
square miles, is the largest watershed in the State. It extends from the
Continental Divide near Leadville, Colorado to the Kansas state line.
The Tamarisk Coalition
inventoried over 1,633 miles of
tamarisk and Russian-olive trees
within the watershed. The
inventory brought to light the
massive extent of the infestation,
revealing that 66,457 acres of
invasive trees exist within the
Arkansas River watershed.
In 2008 a strategic plan was developed through grants from the Colorado
Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and the Colorado Department of
Local Affairs (DOLA). The Tamarisk Coalition wrote the plan with input
from ARKWIPP partners, with final approval given by the Colorado State
Weed Coordinator.
This accounts for 69% of Colorado’s total infestation! Annual water
losses are estimated to be 76,600 acre-feet . The estimated cost to
control tamarisk within the watershed is estimated to be $70 million.
Comparison of Tamarisk Infestations in
Colorado Watersheds (2006 data)
Republican 4%
Photos of tamarisk thicket before and
after restoration efforts on the
Arkansas River in Otero County
South Platte 1%
Photos Courtesy of CSFS
ARKWIPP Goals
The Goals of ARKWIPP are to:
 Provide a mechanism for communication and coordination among
diverse parties and land managers throughout the Arkansas River
Watershed .
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Provide timely and quality annual educational opportunities for
land managers and land owners within the Arkansas River
Watershed focused on management techniques for successful
riparian restoration.
Colorado 8%
Arkansas
69%
White 3%
Dolores 3%
San Juan 6%
Yampa 1%
Uncompahgre 2%
Gunnison 3%