Life Sciences Commons^™

Athel (Tamarix Aphylla) And Athel Hybrid (Tamarix Aphyllax Tamarix Ramosissima)Establishment And Control At Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Carrie Norman, Curt Deuser, Joshua Hoines

Lake Mead Science Symposium

Athel is a large evergreen ornamental tree that has been planted throughout the Southwest since the 1950’s. Athel was considered benign because it was thought to produce non-viable seed unlike its invasive relative, tamarisk. However, athel began establishing in the wild from seed on Lake Mead in 1983. Lake Mead NRA has been actively controlling athel since November 2004 along the high water mark of Lake Mead shoreline (439 miles) to prevent it from spreading throughout the Colorado River Drainage. The NPS contracts Nevada Conservation Corp crews and the Lake Mead Exotic Plant Management Team to implement the control efforts …