The project and funding will be spread over a 5 year period beginning in 2008. The project will consist of controlling and eradicating Tamarix (Salt Cedar) along Muddy Creek, Blacks Fork River, and their tributaries. The project will be labor intensive. The project will consist of individual spot treatments spraying of the seedling, young and mature salt cedar plants, and cutting (chain saw or other methods of cutting down) the larger mature salt cedar plants and swabbing the stumps with herbicides. Herbicides used need to be on the BLM approved chemical list and label followed for applications. The herbicides are most effective when a colorant is used to mark plants treated and a penetrating oil used with the herbicide. The project will increase water supply and support the fisheries along both streams.
Tamarix (Salt Cedar) stands form a monoculture which severely limits wildlife diversity and a key forage plant species. Large plants can transpire as much as 200 gallons of water per day and will often dry up ponds and streams. By controlling the salt cedar this will benefit the water resource as well as allow desirable plant species to get established that are better utilized by grazing animals and wildlife species.
Update: Replanting of native vegetation began along the Blacksfork River began in 2010. Species included cottonwood, willow, buffalo berry, native plum, and chokecherry. Due to high water flows in the spring of 2010 most the replanting were washed away downstream. Of the replanting approximately 40 percent of the above species were still noted along the Blacksfork River. It needs to be noted that the area was not protected from livestock and wildlife and that some of the replanting was lost due grazing. Also for future replanting along the Blackfork River will need some type of protection or enclosure to keep planting from being grazed until they get established. Approximately 10 acres were replanted