Removal of undesirable species
A main element of this task is to remove undesirable noxious and invasive plant species. Critical concerns in the watershed are the invasion of noxious species like tamarisk, or salt cedar, shrubs and Russian olive trees, especially in arroyos and riparian areas. The invasion of these species has helped reduce more desirable native plant species like cottonwoods and willows. A history of overgrazing and fire suppression has helped to increase monotypic stands of sagebrush, cholla cactus and pinyon-juniper in the watershed. Selective removal of these species allows for the regeneration of grasses. The reestablishment of healthy grasslands provides a pathway for precipitation to infiltrate, and can prevent the movement of large amounts of sediment being washed from the land surface or scoured from eroding gullies that drain into watercourses. A 3-part demonstration project using goats to control sagebrush and tamarisk is part of this task.