Research -

Accurate research informs productive, on-the-ground action.

The Tamarisk Coalition is striving to promote -

1. Dialogue and collaboration among scientists to increase the quality and efficiency of such research.
2. The communication of land managers' research needs to researchers to ensure an efficient transfer of knowledge.

To accomplish this, the Tamarisk Coalition partners to host research conferences and symposia.

Independent Peer Review of Tamarisk & Russian olive Evapotranspiration for the Colorado River Basin

A panel of experts was convened in November 2008 to try to answer ten specific questions on the current knowledge about tamarisk and Russian olive (TRO) effects on water availability.  The Panel assembled to complete the report was asked to address whether TRO water use, or evapotranspiration (ET), is sufficiently understood to reasonably predict the water savings associated with TRO removal and native species restoration.  The panel was also asked to detail where and how future research and demonstration projects could best contribute to TRO management and its role in the stewardship of Western rivers. This report, commissioned by the Colorado River Basin States (Basin States), was facilitated by the Tamarisk Coalition. 

USGS Scientific Investigations Report

In May 2010, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation and the USDA Forest Service released the Saltcedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration Act Science Assessment. The report comes as a result of the Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-320). The report synthesizes the state of the science and key research needs on topics related to management of tamarisk and Russian olive.

The full report,USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5247, is available online along with USGS Fact Sheet 2009-3110 that summarizes the findings.

The report complements a similar study, Colorado River Basin Tamarisk and Russian Olive Assessment completed by the Tamarisk Coalition in December 2009. Both reports agree that large-scale demonstrations coupled with detailed research are critical to answering the question on the scope of tamarisk impacts to riparian systems.

Research Needs

Additionally, while compiling the Colorado River Basin Tamarisk and Russian Olive Assessment the Tamarisk Coalition identified research needs, this information is located on p. 93 of the report. These needs were derived from the ET Peer Panel report, literature review, and through personal communication with resources. Additionally, some of the research needs were identified from presentations and discussions at the Tamarisk and Russian Olive Research Conference, held February 18-19, 2009 in Reno, Nevada.