Colorado River Basin Tamarisk and Russian Olive Assessment

The Tamarisk Coalition is proud to announce the release of the Colorado River Basin Tamarisk and Russian Olive Assessment.  The seven states that span the Colorado River basin commissioned the Tamarisk Coalition to perform a comprehensive assessment of tamarisk and Russian olive including:  current conditions, distribution, the state-of-the-science, the range of information available on impacts, control and management techniques, restoration, potential sources of funding, and gaps in current knowledge where additional research is appropriate. In addition the Tamarisk Coalition was asked to develop a list of potential tamarisk and Russian olive control demonstration projects for submittal to the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation for consideration for federal funding pursuant to the Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration Act.

One component of the CO River Basin TRO Assessment is the Independent Peer Review of Tamarisk & Russian olive Evapotranspiration for the Colorado River Basin (ET Report).  A panel of experts was convened in November 2008 to try to answer ten specific questions on the current knowledge about tamarisk and Russian olive (TRO) effects on water availability.  The Panel assembled to complete the report was asked to address whether TRO water use, or evapotranspiration (ET), is sufficiently understood to reasonably predict the water savings associated with TRO removal and native species restoration.  The panel was also asked to detail where and how future research and demonstration projects could best contribute to TRO management and its role in the stewardship of Western rivers. This report, commissioned by the Colorado River Basin States (Basin States), was facilitated by the Tamarisk Coalition.