Phoenix Water Grows Trees To Revitalize Tres Rios Wetlands

Press release from the City of Phoenix:

June 16, 2020

The lush and scenic Tres Rios Wetlands are full of cottonwood groves, willows, mesquites, palo verde and other desert trees around the reed-lined ponds. Among these native trees lives the highly invasive salt cedar. These problematic trees diminish the health of surrounding trees by taking away water and nutrients. “A fully-grown salt cedar can drink up to 200 gallons of water a day,” said Lisa Bird, Operations & Maintenance Supervisor at the Tres Rios Wetlands.

As Phoenix Water staff remove the overpowering salt cedar, they replace it with native plants to prevent the salt cedar from growing back. The team at the 91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant grow trees from native seed pods rather than purchasing more trees.

The project started over two years ago by building a structure with supplies already on hand and a goal to grow more desert trees.

Throughout the year, staff harvest seed pods from native desert trees at the wetlands. They strategically plant seeds in stages year-round to always have trees readily available. These seeds are planted in tall pots or PVC pipe and grow in a shaded structure until they are ready for planting. The tall pot allows young plants to develop a tap root as long as 30 inches. A healthy taproot allows the plant to reach water deep in the soil.

Last year 250 trees were grown and almost all of them have successfully matured in the ground. The shade structure now has the capacity to produce 1,000 trees.

“This project restores a vital wetland and riparian habitat that is home to more than 150 different species of birds and animals like muskrats, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, bobcats and beavers,” states Stuart Dalbey, Deputy Water Services Director at the 91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant. “This is part of a larger effort to bring the Salt River back to the condition it was in during the early 1800s.”

Phoenix Water donates some of the trees to the Parks and Recreation Department. Since March of 2019, 272 trees have been donated to the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration area, 15 to North Mountain Park, North Mountain Visitor Center and Deem Hills Preserve areas and 8 to the Sonoran Preserve.

This press release was produced by the City of Phoenix. The views expressed here are the author’s own.