Riparian Restoration Workshop 

June 23-25, 2015, Flagstaff, AZ Barbara E. Ralston and Daniel A. Sarr 
Objective and Background 

Explore successes and challenges in nonnative vegetation contSeek recommendations for scientifically based vegetation contr

Why • Desired Future conditions – Increase native species •Tamarisk beetle and woody vegetation expansion • Revegetation efforts can be costly and success unquantifiable • Failure due to vague objectives and poorly defined outcomes •Apply experience to large challenge 
Workshop Approach – Case Studies 

Review of Successes and Challenges in Non-native Vegetation CColorado River Basin Principles and Scales of Restoration

Local, River, Watershed, 

Focus Areas • Local Scale – Canyon de Chelly, Yuma area, Grand Canyon, Glen 

• River Scale – Rio Grande, Lower Colorado River, Upper Colorado • Watershed Scale – Gila Watershed, Dolores River, Verde Rivers • Monitoring & Measuring Success – Principles, Site Monitoring, Cit
Bloodworth/Neilsen Tamarisk Coalition Tamarisk Beetle

K. Burke Grand Canyon Wildlands Glen CanyonD. Dean, J. Bennett USGS, NPS Rio Grande

M. Grabau Geosystems Analysis Lower C.R.M. Ingraldi AZ Game & Fish MonitoringMcMaster & Chaudhry Mariposa Ecological and Botanical Consulting, NPS Granite Camp restoration

F. O'Donnell Northern Arizona University Climate modeling for G.C.

D. Oppenheimer Tamarisk Coalition Dolores R. PartnershipOrr, Johnson et al. Stillwater Sciences, NAU Virgin, Gila RiverC. Rasmussen Eco Mainstream contracting (EMC) Colorado River in UtahRasmussen & Orr EMC & Stillwater Sciences River resilience redefined.

L. Reynolds Colorado St. U, USGS Canyon de Chelly

Sarr_Oppenheimer USGS, Tamarisk Coalition Watershed restoration principles

Sarr and Norris USGS, NPS MonitoringJ. Schmidt Utah St. University Riparian vegetation and Channel A. Schrenk Friend of Verde River Greenway Invasive Plant Management

J. Schuetz University of New Mexico Citizen Science/data collectionShanahan and Eckberg Southern Nevada Water Authority Las Vegas Wash RevegetationP. Skidmore Walton Family Foundation Colorado River Basin restorationTrathnigg and Phillips Fred Phillips Consulting, LLC. Restoration and response monitoT. Whitham Northern Arizona University Climate change and genetic appro
Workshop Take Away 

Identifying/defining resilience in the face of climate change and water de

What are the underlying biogeomorphic processes driving change? 

Incorporation of genetic variability into restoration in the face of climate 

Locally adapted today = Locally maladapted in the future. 

Spectrum of restoration as a decision criteria

Passive to active approaches tied to river resilience

Multi-partner communication and information sharing

Keeping appraised of best practices and sharing success/failures
Workshop Take Away 

Initial site assessment critical + future water demands Incorporation of cost/benefit analysis into success/failure assessmenCommunity engagement is a strong lever for success Tools for collaboration 

X-Watershed network – good technical support Bosque Monitoring – good example of community network 

Research 

plant/soil/water relationship information Proxy measures for soil characterization Life history information of native /nonnative species 
Product 

USGS Open-File Report Online – June 2016 • Extended Abstracts for most presentation – in review • Transcribed comments of last day identifying needs • List of participants and contact information 

Funded by WaterSMART funds to Southwest Biological Science