Jim Matheson: “as Utah copes with its most severe drought in recent times, protecting our native species from invasive plants is vital…”

“as Utah copes with its most severe drought in recent times, protecting our native species from invasive plants is vital to both agriculture and the environment. It is important to those of us in the West to take those steps necessary to stop non-native species from consuming our precious water resources. Throughout the development of the West, we have maintained a healthy and vibrant balance between our economic and residential needs and the needs of our native plants and animals. The tamarisk threatens that balance. For this reason, I support H.R. 2707--The Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration Act. This bill has particular meaning to me and to my constituents, because of the efforts it promotes to eradicate tamarisk. Overall, experts estimate the economic impact of invasive species in the U.S. to be over $100 billion annually. Scientists have calculated that tamarisk plants soak up an estimated 2-4 million acre-feet of water per year in the West. A single plant can absorb up to 300 gallons of water a day through a taproot that can reach down 50 feet into the water table. Tamarisk, originally introduced by settlers trying to control stream bank erosion, is inedible to most animals and is notoriously difficult to kill. Even when it's burned, it generates new shoots.”