The White River Alliance continues to promote awareness and community action about thirsty invasives. This past Saturday a team of White River Alliance members gathered to cut down Russian Olive trees growing near the river around Meeker.
Elaeagnus Angustifolia (Russian Olive) was introduced here in the early 1900s from Europe and Asia as a landscaping tree thought to be useful as a wind break and soil stabilizer. The problem is that the Russian Olive got out of control and now spreads throughout river valleys and water ways not only taking away native habitat, but consuming huge amounts of water. Hopefully through action and awareness that won’t happen here in our White River basin.
Water, our most valuable resource. It’s not just about Russian Olive. Several Tamarisk plants were discovered along the river as well. Invasive’s like Russian Olive and Tamarisk are threatening more agriculture lands and wildlife habitat every year. It’s estimated that Tamarisk alone now covers 3.3 million aces of western US and one Tamarisk plant can absorb as much as 200 gallons of water a day
That’s good enough reason to bring us together about invasives. The more engaged and consolidated we are about protecting the river, the more successful our efforts will be at managing the problems invasive plants and trees cause.To learn more about our Russian Olive efforts and other topics important to our river and valley, please check us out at Whiteriveralliance.net. We welcome new members all the time.
Special to the Herald Times