Controlling Salt Cedar Along the Pecos River

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Scientists from New Mexico State University are working to eradicate thirsty salt cedars along two New Mexico rivers. Anna María Pérez-Wright has the story.

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New Mexico State University scientists are helping state Soil and Water Conservation districts control water-guzzling salt cedar along the Pecos River and the Rio Grande. Brush and weed specialist Keith Duncan with NMSU's Agricultural Science Center at Artesia says it's important to find ways to control salt cedar because the plant has no natural enemies such as insects and diseases.

"It has spread throughout much of the state and has taken over vast acreages of all of our rivers and drainages and tributaries. It crowds out native plants, it destroys wildlife habitat, and one of the biggest issues is that it uses tremendous amounts of water."

The state legislature is funding herbicide application for salt cedar plants along the two rivers. Duncan says treatment of salt cedar is underway on more than 6,000 acres of private land along the Pecos River.

"We will be using aerial applications in the initial process on the Pecos River utilizing three helicopters. Other projects will continue on throughout the wintertime. That will involve ground-based applications and cut-stump treatments within areas that do not justify aerial application or in many areas through towns and cities along the river."

Land owners interested in participating in this salt cedar eradication project can contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District offices. For N-M-S-U's College of Agriculture and Home Economics, I'm Anna María Pérez-Wright.