News Release

For Immediate Release: September 5, 2002

Contact:  Doran Sanchez (909) 697-5220; E-MAIL: dasanche@ca.blm.gov

 

CA-610-02-76

 

Local Springs Temporarily Closed During Tamarisk Eradication Projects

 

In an effort to eliminate tamarisk (also known as salt cedar) and giant arundo (giant cane), the Bureau of Land Management?s (BLM) Needles Field Office will temporarily close the Sacramento and Tan Tan Springs in the Sacramento Mountains, the Red Spring and Picture Canyon in the Dead Mountains Wilderness, and Bonanza Spring in the Clipper Mountains.

 

The eradication is expected to take approximately two months.  The BLM will temporarily close these areas due to the use of pesticides.  BLM staff specialists and members of the California Conservation Corps will conduct the eradication projects at the following dates and locations.

-  Bonanza Springs, September 16 to October 1

-  Picture Canyon, Tan-Tan Spring, Red Spring, and Sacramento Spring, October 1 through October 21.  

 

Tamarisk species were introduced as ornamentals and are weedy trees with deep roots and one of the highest transpiration rates of any known phreatophte (plants dependent upon ground water).  As a result, these species require a tremendous amount of water (20,000 gallons per day) to survive.  Tamarisk out-compete native vegetation by monopolizing water resources, and by changing soil chemistry by the excretion of salt through the leaves.

 

Tamarisk and (giant cane) generally provide unsuitable habitat for foraging for native wildlife species, as the foliage and flowers provide little nutrition in comparison to native plants.  The seeds also are too small to be utilized as food by most seedeaters.

 

To re-establish and maintain native plant populations around the springs, tamarisk and giant arundo must be completely eliminated or they will re-infest a site.  Desert springs provide water for wildlife species, as well as habitat for many water dependent species of plants and animals that would not exist in the desert except for the presence of water.

 

Cottonwood and willow will be replanted at sites where water is still present to help restore the areas to their natural states and prevent tamarisk from re-sprouting.  In addition to tamarisk removal, a fence and pedestrian pass-through will be constructed at the access site to Picture Canyon to stop illegal vehicle entry into the wilderness area and protect the nearby riparian areas.

 

For more information contact Lesly Smith in the BLM Needles Field Office at 760-326-7000.

 

-BLM-