PARIA BEACH RIPARIAN RESTORATION

IN GLEN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA,

LEES FERRY, ARIZONA

KEN HYDE AND LARRY

STEVENS

GLEN CANYON NRA AND

GRAND CANYON

WILDLANDS COUNCIL, 

INC.
GRAND CANYON WILDLANDS COUNCIL

FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA

Launched: 1 March 1996

Mission: Safe havens and safe passages for all the Grand Canyon

region's native wild creatures 

Staff: Kelly Burke (ED), Larry Stevens (Ecologist), Brian Stultz 

(Environmental Coordinator)

GCWC Projects: 

• Ecological inventory and assessment

• Agency advisement

• Landscape and species conservation and rehabilitation

• Educational outreach
PROJECT STATEMENT

The Paria Beach is one of the most intensively visited

recreation sites downstream from Glen Canyon Dam, 

but with the advent of the tamarisk leaf beetle, it is 

now covered with dead and dying tamarisk.

Building on several previous riparian restoration

projects, and working with Glen Canyon National 

Recreation Area, GCWC requested and received support

from the Arizona Water Protection Fund to rehabilitate

the 4 ac riparian zone of Paria Beach in 2020-2023.

THE PARIA BEACH

Problem: Tamarisk dominance “solved” by introduction 

of Diorhabda leaf beetles, decimating tamarisk but no 

recovery of native phreatophyes or habitat.

Result: Degradation of headwater and higher stream 

order riparian wildlife habitat, function, visitor 

experience.

Solution: Riparian restoration/rehabilitation, likely

permanent improvements in site- and river

corridor habitat through enhanced habitat,

native seed production, visitor experience 
AWPF-Funded 

GCWC and Fred Phillips

Lees Ferry Riparian Restoration

2001 - 2012

Methods

10 ac (4 ha), easy access

Mechanical tamarisk removal

Irrigation system installation

Revegetation with native species

Monitoring

Results

Native vegetation cover, 5 yr

Avian diversity rebounded >2 yr

Use of landscape by wildlife

Recreational use for camping

A

B

C

Fig. 2.2: Lees Ferrry pilot rehabilitation site. A – Pre-treatement, 2001;

B – Post Treatment, 2002; C – native phreatophyte growth in 2011.

Stevens, L.E., K.J. Burke, J.R. Spence, L. Pilkington, and C. Hughes. 2015. 

Colorado River riparian ecosystem rehabilitation in Glen and Grand 

Canyons, Arizona. Pp. 353-376 in Huenneke, L.F., C. van Riper III, and K.A. 

Hayes-Gilpin, editors. The Colorado Plateau VI: Science and Management 

at the Landscape Scale. University of Arizona Press, Tucson.
AWPF-funded GLCA

Hidden Slough (-6.5R)

Riparian Restoration:

7 acre, remote site,

2008-2017

2005

2018

2009
GLCA “LUNCH BEACH” (-7 L) REHABILITATION BY

GLEN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA STAFF

Timeframe: 2018-2020

Area: 1 ha (2.5 ac)

Tasks: 1) Planning 

2) Compliance

3) Volunteer-based removal of tamarisk

4) Providing firewood to public

5) Replanting/reseeding

6) Monitoring
Goals

Goal 1: Further the GCWC mission through active collaboration with 

land management agencies 

Goal 2: Restore natural shoreline configuration, native riparian 

vegetation, and natural habitats along the Colorado River 

Goal 3: Conduct restoration activities in a fashion fully consistent with 

the NPS mission, and in accord with NPS management policies, 

practices, and public education.

Tasks

Task 1: Obtain permits, authorizations, clearances and agreements

Task 2: Compilation and assessment of background information

Task 3: Develop restoration, maintenance, monitoring plans

Task 4: Monitor vegetation, inverts, herps, birds, mammals

Task 5: Implement restoration

Task 6: Public outreach

Task 7: Final report

PARIA BEACH REHABILITATION GOALS AND TASKS
ON-THE-GROUND WORK

Mechanical cut/clear decadent tamarisk

Slash disposal – several options 

Make firewood available to the public

Replant with native vegetation:

Goodding’s Willow

Fremont Cottonwood

Coyote Willow

Box Elder

Upper terrace – Saltbush, grasses

Experimental spp – Hoptree, etc.

Monitor

Feedback to improve future mgt.
GCWC expresses its deep gratitude to GLCA and to AWPF

for past and on-going support

Questions and Discussion