Restoration Successes on the Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community: Practices and Funding Support
Gina Leverette-Mason1
1Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Scottsdale, Arizona USA; Regina.Leverette-Mason@srpmic-nsn.gov
Two perennial rivers, the Salt and Verde, flow within the boundaries of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC). The safeguarding of these Rivers is a priority for the Tribe for reasons such as history and cultural practice preservation, as well as for the protection of important natural resources and wildlife. Tribal restoration efforts have mainly occurred within the riparian corridor where the two Rivers flow, as well as along outfalls to the semi-dry lower Salt River. Over the past 15 years the SRPMIC has greatly increased efforts to mitigate effects of illegal dumping, erosion, and noxious weeds in these areas.
Within the flowing riparian corridor, noxious weeds, mainly salt cedar, have been a major concern. Dense thickets of salt cedar have altered the native landscape within the riparian corridor, creating areas devoid of native vegetation and steam reach areas not easily accessible to Tribal Members. Salt cedar has been a Tribal-environmental focus for over 10 years. A newly-targeted invasive species, Arundo donax or “giant reed”, is often found along waterways and can grow in various soil types. Both salt cedar and Arundo donax remain on the priority list for removal over the next 4 years. Replanting within noxious weed removal areas has shown to be critical because it helps to prevent erosion and the regrowth of unwanted plant species.
Restoration efforts along outfalls to the lower Salt River include the construction of two treatment wetlands. These wetlands were constructed within illegal-dumping grounds that not only contributed surface debris to the lower Salt River, but also an abundance of sediment gathered by continuously-eroding dirt channels. Salt cedar was also heavily present in these areas. Years later these wetlands have become places of refuge for many types of wildlife, environmental education centers, and sources for native-plant stock.