Fluvial adjustments to the spread of tamarisk in the Colorado Plateau region

Abstract

Research Article| October 01, 1978 Fluvial adjustments to the spread of tamarisk in the Colorado Plateau region WILLIAM L. GRAF WILLIAM L. GRAF 1Department of Geography, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information WILLIAM L. GRAF 1Department of Geography, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1978) 89 (10): 1491–1501. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1978)89<1491:FATTSO>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation WILLIAM L. GRAF; Fluvial adjustments to the spread of tamarisk in the Colorado Plateau region. GSA Bulletin 1978;; 89 (10): 1491–1501. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1978)89<1491:FATTSO>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Tamarisk, a shrub or low tree that was artificially introduced into the American Southwest in the late 1800s, has spread throughout the Colorado Plateau region by occupying islands, sand bars, and beaches along streams. Historical photographs show that tamarisk spread from northern Arizona to the upper reaches of the Colorado and Green Rivers at a rate of about 20 km/yr. Detailed studies on the Green River in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, show that the plant has trapped and stabilized sediment, causing an average reduction in channel width of 27%. Photogrammetric analysis of historical ground photography, including photos from John Wesley Powell's 1871 expedition, and recent aerial photographs supplemented by field surveys provided quantitative data. Expanded islands and channel-side bars exhibit allometric relationships as they change, apparently maintaining a balance between turbulence and friction. Overbank flooding is common on the tamarisk-stabilized features. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.