FLOOD07093

• County: Otero
• County: Pueblo
• Community: Otero, Pueblo Counties
• Stream Name: Arkansas River
• Basin: Arkansas
• Title: Arkansas River Channel Capacity and Riparian Habitat Planning Study
• Date: 8/1/2001
• Prepared For: CWCB
• Prepared By: US Army Corps of Engineers
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Project

The Colorado Division of Wildlife manages s.everal areas in the Arkansas River Valley
for harvestable and non-game animals. In addition to1waterbirds mentioned above, the major
species considered in management plans include mule and white-tailed deer, pronghorn, Ring-
necked Pheasant, Scaled Quail, Northern Bobwhite, Mourning Dove, Eastern cottontail, black-
tailed jackrabbit, striped and spotted skunk, raccoon, prairie dog, bobcat, beaver, red fox, mink,
long-tailed weasel, and muskrat.

3.3.6. Salt Cedar Removal

While salt-cedar cannot be entirely eradicated from Southwestern riparian systems, local
stands can be significantly reduced and replaced with native plant species. Several mechanical
and herbicidal removal methods have been successfully applied; however, specific techniques to
be employed depend largely on site-specific conditions such as stand stem density, stand size,
species composition, and location relative to sensitive areas. The following summary ofsalt-
cedar removal methods is taken primarily from Sisneros (1994).

Root plowing. Mechanical removal of large, moderately to very dense stands of salt-cedar
can be accomplished through the root plowing method. An optional first step may be to burn an
existing stand to reduce the amount of woody material requiring removal. Above ground stems
are removed by bulldozing. Because the growing meristem of salt-cedar is located in the root
crown just below the soil surface, the crowns must be removed to prevent re-sprouting. Root
plowing draws a blade through the soil at a depth of 10 to 16 inches and removes the crown from
the rootstock. Because even severed root crowns will re-sprout, they are collected for disposal
with a root rake. Herbicidal hand spraying of salt-cedar sprouts is a common follow-up practice
in the second growing season after root plowing.

Mechanical removal is especially suitable for stands adjacent to waterways where the use
of herbicides is restricted or undesirable. Patches of desirable vegetation within a target salt-
cedar stand can easily be avoided and left intact during clearing. The root plowing method does
disturb the entire soil surface and, therefore, often requires reseeding of grasses and groundcover
for soil stability and vegetation restoration. A large quantity of woody debris is generated by this
removal method. In various projects, this material has been hauled from the work site and
disposed in landfills, or piled and burned in place. qosts are estimated to range from $500 to
$1,000 per acre depending on tree size and density.

Brush hog. Brush hogs, or brush choppers, are large backhoe attachments used to shred
aboveground woody stems. Their use in the Southwest for salt-cedar and Russian olive removal
is relatively new and results are still being evaluated. Although, perhaps, best suited for removal
of small stands or strips of vegetation, it has been uS,ed for removal of Russian olive from the
understory of cottonwood forest. Small stems are sljredded to the ground surface; larger (greater
than 6 inches diameter) trees may be topped and theh treated with herbicides (see ncut-stumpn
method below). Shredded debris is often left in place, but may be raked and disposed if there are
concerns such as brush fires. Soil and groundcover are minimally disturbed compared to the root
plowing method. Because salt-cedar rootstocks are left intact, follow-up treatment with hand-
sprayed herbicide would likely be required to control re-sprouting. No cost estimates for salt-
cedar removal are available at this time.

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