Rivers Edge West

Rivers are the foundation of the life in the arid Southwest. One of the most important features of a river is the riparian area; where the water meets the land. These areas are often referred to as ribbons of life because of their ability to sustain enormous amounts of biodiversity. The benefits of riparian areas span far beyond providing food and habitat for fish and wildlife, into economic, recreational, and agricultural prosperity. These are the reasons why river restoration and our work at RiversEdge West is so important.

Rivers have been overcome with invasive plants, notably tamarisk (saltcedar), and Russian olive. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that 80% of riparian habitat across the U.S. has been lost or altered in part due to the invasion of non-native plant species that rapidly crowd out native plants such as cottonwood, willow, and many others.

The loss of native plant diversity along rivers that results from invasive plant infestations reduces and degrades available resources (e.g. food and shelter) for wildlife, fish, pollinators, birds, and livestock. Invasive riparian plants also impair natural river function by channelizing river banks, restricting recreational access to scenic landscapes, reducing the productivity of agricultural lands, and, in the case of tamarisk, increasing the frequency and severity of catastrophic wildfires.

The water usage* by invasive plants such as tamarisk can also be substantial; tamarisk grows in greater densities and with massive root systems in areas far outside the river's edge where they displace less thirsty plants, such as sagebrush and rabbitbrush.

RiversEdge West improves the health of riparian ecosystems that have been overtaken by invasive plants and in doing so, promotes the economic, social, and cultural well-being of communities in the American West.

*Note: Water consumption by these plants is part of the complex puzzle of a dynamic river system, yet should not be the sole reason for why we engage in riparian restoration.