The Dolores River Restoration Partnership recently facilitated a joint classroom/field training from March 26 to March 29 on the restoration of riparian habitats in anticipation for the spring seasons of Canyon Country Youth Corps, Western Colorado Conservation Corps, and Southwest Conservation Corps.
The week consisted of an invasive species/noxious weeds classroom session presented by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), followed by four days of education and hands-on field work of the removal and treatment of tamarisk, or salt cedar, along the BLM-managed section of the Colorado River known as Ruby/Horsethief. Tamarisk, most notably, has been shown to displace native riparian vegetation, decreasing biodiversity, blocking access to streams for wildlife and recreation, and increasing the intensity and frequency of wildfire.
More than 20 youth corps crew members floated five rafts full of gear and supplies to the remote location where they practiced native and invasive plant species identification, chainsaw techniques, and herbicide application. Crew members learned techniques used to eradicate tamarisk while leaving native species like cottonwoods, rabbitbrush and willow intact. Safety and proper technique were of the utmost importance as members developed their chainsaw and herbicide-application skills, and practiced implementation of various treatment prescriptions as they prepared for their season at various other worksites along the Dolores River.
Formed in 2008, the Dolores River Restoration Partnership is a public-private collaboration of local, state and federal agencies, universities, not-for-profit organizations, landowners, foundations and citizen volunteers that share a common set of goals and principles for restoring the riparian habitat of the Dolores River. In addition to ecological goals, this multi-year ongoing partnership has social goals as well. Through employing youth corps to carry out the treatment prescriptions, the partnership supports crews in gaining job and life skills, as well as preparing them to be the next generation of stewards.
The project area is from McPhee Reservoir to the confluence with the Colorado River and covers more than 174 river miles. The Dolores River was selected because it offers rare, riverside plant communities and a need for restoration to help native plant and wildlife populations. The river is a significant tributary to the Colorado River and collaborative conservation is demonstrated on this large-scale landscape.
