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| Wilson Works to Clean Up Bosque |
February 24, 2004 |
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Wilson Hails Passage of Bill to Clean Up Salt Cedar & Prevent Wildfires
Lawmaker Is Original Cosponsor of Bosque Restoration Effort
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Heather Wilson today announced that an effort to control the growth of Salt Cedar and Russian Olive in the Bosque has been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives.
The effort to remove invading salt cedar from the Bosque will lessen the vulnerability to wildfires by allowing the natural growth to flourish again. The salt cedars soak up water and put more salt into the soil. Wilson is an original cosponsor of the Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration Act (H.R. 2707), which passed Tuesday 367-40.
“Rehabilitation of the Bosque takes planning and active management,” Wilson said. “Unchecked growth of salt cedar will leave the Bosque more susceptible to wildfires.”
A salt cedar can use up to an estimated 200 gallons in a day during growing season, while an average Albuquerque family uses 197 gallons. The Salt Cedar Control bill establishes three projects to control the infestation of salt cedar, and assess each for longterm use. Each uses different methods: herbicides, mechanical and biocontrol (such as goats or insects).
Under the bill, officials would assess the extent of the infestation and identify longterm management strategies for preservation and re-vegetation of the Bosque. The demonstration projects would also monitor and record the amounts of water saved by controlling the spread of salt cedar, and determine which of the three demonstration methods proved most practical.
“Without action, Salt Cedar and Russian Olive will choke the Bosque,” Wilson said. “A single salt cedar is estimated to use as much water in a day as an average household.”
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