by Jackie Blumberg, Walsh Environmental
“On down this here Greenish river… Wherever the river makes a bend – and this river comes near, in places, to bowknots – there is another flat area, a bottom, covered with silt, sand, gravel, grown up with grass and brush and cactus and, near shore, trees: willow, cottonwood, box elder, and jungles of tamarisk.
“The tamarisk does not belong here, has become a pest, a water-loving exotic engaged in the process of driving out the cottonwoods and willows. A native of arid North Africa, the tamarisk was imported to the American Southwest fifty years ago by conservation experts – dirt management specialists – in hopes that it would prevent streambank erosion.”
Edward Abbey, Down the River with Henry Thoreau
Problematic tamarisk are but one of the myriad of topics in the Spring issue of the green line. The green line staff are pleased to present a divers and engaging issue that varies from busy beavers to large-scale river restoration projects, and everything in between! Each subject constitutes a unique piece of the riparian puzzle. As always, we thank our contributing writers who make these diverse topics available and invest time to provide insight into current thoughts and activities around the west. If you have a topic you’d like to share in the form of an article, please contact our editorial staff! Publishing in the green line is easy and reaches hundreds, if not many more, readers in Colorado and beyond.
The green line appreciates feedback from its readers in the form of articles, ideas, questions or comments. As the weather warms you may find yourself, as Edward Abbey often did, alongside a river contemplating what you have read or are observing, The green line encourages you to take a floodplain walk and consider these things. We would love to hear from you!