Riparian lands are among the most valuable lands in the west. However, many of these rivers and streams are not properly functioning for several reasons. One of the biggest issues is invasive woody plants (such as tamarisk and Russian olive) that crowd out native riparian vegetation such as cottonwoods, willows, rabbitbrush, grasses, etc. This condition increases wildfire hazards, impacts wildlife habitat, changes stream structure, decreases recreational use, and changes water flow. Solving this problem is recognized by the Western Governors’ Association as critical to the economic, social, and ecological health of the region and through its Policy Resolution 05-11 – Undesirable, Invasive Aquatic and Riparian Species:

“...urge(s) support for federal programs... that provide assistance to states in the management of invasive species, including... programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior.”

To learn more about these issues, the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program, and other programs designed to meet these challenges, check out our reasoning and discussion.