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Restoring one of the Southwest's most unique riparian ecosystems
Riparian habitats are the most productive, biologically diverse, valuable habitats in the Southwest — and they are also the most threatened. Riparian areas here account for less than 2 percent of the land, yet over 65 percent of the Southwest's wildlife depends on these areas. As little as 100 years ago, Arizona's riparian areas covered 10 percent of the state; today that number is less than 1 percent. Tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima) and Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) were introduced into the Southwest in the late nineteenth century to help control streambank erosion. Since then, these highly invasive species have spread throughout the West and caused major changes to rivers and streams.
Paria Canyon is wedged between Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Staircase National Monument, and Grand Canyon National Park. This area is a must-see for any backpacker who loves the Southwest. The terrain is relatively flat inside the canyon but conditions can be wet and mucky, which makes for slow walking. The riparian corridor is lush with native vegetation, songbirds and sweeping vistas.
The Paria is at risk of being dominated by invasive plants. To address this problem, the Grand Canyon Trust initiated a 5-year cooperative project with the Bureau of Land Management, funded by the Arizona Water Protection Fund. Our goal is to restore and preserve natural stream conditions — including proper channel function and wildlife habitat — in the Paria Canyon and Buckskin Gulch. Post-treatment monitoring will determine the program's success.
