During the autumn of 1999, a National Park Service team destroyed thousands of plants along the Mancos River on the eastern boundary of Mesa Verde National Park. Absolutely the plants were tamarisk, a vigorous invader of rivers and streams throughout the western United States. Originally from Asia, it was imported as an ornamental plant, and for erosion control, windbreaks, and shade. With its prolific regeneration, hardy adaptations, and lack of natural controls, tamarisk quickly spread throughout the American West. Many scientists believe the spread of tamarisk has been aided by dams and other flood control projects.
Tamarisk now occupies virtually every river system in the Southwest.
It can form dense uniform stands, crowd out native trees and shrubs, and ruin wildlife habitat. The dense stands are susceptible to destructive fires, further harming riparian areas. Tamarisk also decreases available surface water, sometimes drying up streams, ponds, and even lakes. These salts, exuded from the tamarisk leaves, collect under the plant, further increasing soil salinity and discouraging native plants. Public Problem, Cooperative Solution National Park Service funding was not sufficient to undertake the entire project of eradicating tamarisk along the Mancos River.