[Muleteam1]

>>The area off of I-70 is very densely wooded with Salt Cedars and high grass.<<

The USDA has had a plan for years to import several natural biological controls for Tamarisk (salt cedar) but the USFWS at Albuquerque has had a folded-arm strategy to stand in the way of these biologicals. The middle Rio Grande bosque undergrowth is now dense with salt cedar and, when dry, it burns like a kerosene-soaked rag.

Muleteam1

[wjcsux]

The Tamarisk trees were imported in the 1800's from the Middle East. They were brought in for wind blocks and planted all over AZ, CO, UT and NM. They soak up water like a sponge. I have heard that these trees use up almost 1/4 of the water in the Rio Grande. As you stated, the state has tried to get rid of them but the USFWS stands in the way. Remember the USFS bonehead who tried to conduct a controlled burn in the middle of our windy season?