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Cottonwood is one of the most recognized tree species and truly is king in the West. |
Where cottonwood is king
Reflections of my childhood bring back happy memories of an old tire swing on a big cottonwood tree at our family farm. I have always had an appreciation for cottonwoods, probably because of the wildlife-rich areas I explored as a child along the rivers and creeks.
Cottonwood is one of the most recognized tree species and truly is king in the West. However, they are in serious trouble as aging stands die off.
Cottonwoods regenerate via seeds dispersed during the summer months and require specific conditions for germination and seedling growth to occur, including scoured bare soils, abundant soil moisture and a lack of flooding after establishment. These conditions have become less prevalent in the West, and cottonwoods face an uphill battle.
Western rivers and streams impounded by dams or dried up by irrigation demands have greatly reduced the periodic flooding needed to create cottonwood seedbeds. Where natural regeneration is occurring, browsing pressure on young seedlings from domestic livestock and some wildlife suppresses the seedlings needed to replace dying cottonwoods. In addition, invasive Russian olive and saltcedar are out-competing cottonwoods for seedling sites, making the challenge even more difficult. The results are old cottonwood stands with no young trees or existing stands dominated by invasive species.
Why be concerned?
The decline of cottonwoods is a significant concern for wildlife because cottonwoods and riparian corridors provide critical habitat many wildlife species need. Cottonwoods are especially important for wild turkeys, as they often provide the only suitable roosting habitat in grassland-dominated landscapes. Rio Grande and Merriam’s wild turkeys are particularly dependent on cottonwood stands for roosting. The native plants found in cottonwood habitat also provide critical nesting and brood rearing areas. Reversing the downward trend for cottonwoods and restoring riparian areas is essential for the future of wild turkeys and other wildlife in the western U.S., and a landscape level approach to cottonwood conservation is needed.
What can be done?
The NWTF, in cooperation with its partners, is seeking answers and launching projects to restore cottonwoods and critical riparian habitats across the West. As part of the NWTF’s North American Wild Turkey Management Plan, the Northern Plains Riparian Restoration Initiative and Southern Great Plains Riparian Initiative are working to understand the decline of cottonwoods and reversing the trend. The NWTF has made efforts to improve the communication among resource professionals working with cottonwoods and riparian restoration, encouraging the sharing of ideas, successes and failures.
In addition, through the two riparian initiatives, the NWTF and its partners have funded nearly $3.1 million in riparian area restoration and conservation projects, directly impacting more than 52,000 acres. Projects are aimed at gaining an understanding of the best cottonwood management practices and demonstrating to others the importance of riparian areas and cottonwoods.
Projects included Russian olive and saltcedar eradication in Western riparian areas, creation of riparian pastures to control livestock access during critical times for cottonwood regeneration, and several large cottonwood plantings across the region. These projects are not only improving wild turkey habitat in the West, but also improving these areas for a variety of wildlife species, such as bald eagles and neo-tropical birds.
The NWTF is committed to cottonwood and riparian area restoration in the West and will continue working with its partners to find solutions. Wild turkeys and many other wildlife species are counting on us, as are future generations of kids who will experience the pure joy of a tire swing hung from an old cottonwood. — Jared McJunkin, NWTF Northern Great Plains regional biologist