Increase in Non-native Vegetation at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Impacts the Local Ecosystem

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a desert oasis with threatened and endangered bird species, hanging gardens, and rare orchid species, some of which can only be found in Glen Canyon. According to Taryn Preston, Natural Resource Program Manager, the park’s recreational opportunities and rich cultural and natural resources attract thousands of visitors annually, and with a recent increase in visitation to a remote area of the park, invasive species have also infiltrated the native ecosystems. The National Park Service (NPS) is using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to mitigate the invasive plants to restore the native ecosystem and improve recreation in the park.

Youth crew members apply herbicide to the base of a recently cut non-native plant.

NPS Photo

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages the permit system for campsites and rafts along the San Juan River, previously averaging 4,000 annual permit requests, which has recently increased to 12,000 permit requests. “We’re seeing more use and that can introduce an invasion of new weeds, some that are very unfriendly to humans with thorns,” Preston said. Not only can they cause harm to people’s feet and equipment, such as rafts and tents, they also threaten the wildlife and native ecosystems. “Plants such as camelthorn and Russian knapweed are not native to the area, so they have kind of an unfair advantage over the natives, and they can form dense monocultures,” Preston said. Monocultures occur when one type of plant dominates a particular area, forcing out other plant species. “These plants produce a lot of seed,” she said. “Russian knapweed, for example, produces a chemical that will go into the soil and that will kill other species.”

The area is in a remote location only accessible by rafting downstream. Due to the logistical challenges of the project, the NPS will be working with the Utah Conservation Corps. which is out of Utah State University and coordinating with the BLM for campsites along the river.

“We’re working with Utah Conservation Corps., who are very familiar with this area and have the gear to get in there safely,” Preston said. The methods to remove the invasive plants depend on the species. “The most effective treatment is with herbicide,” Preston said. “The bigger vegetation - such as the Russian Olive tree- will need to be cut down with either hand saws or chain saws, and then treated with herbicide. Then everything else would be spot sprayed with hand or backpack sprayers.”

Looking forward, this project has the opportunity to engage not just other U.S. Federal Land Management Agencies, but also Tribal partners in the area, according to Preston. “The land is managed by the park on one side of the river, the other side of the river is managed by the Navajo Nation, and we are interested in doing some future projects where we could work with them to possibly treat both sides of the river as we go down,” Preston said.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

This project was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – Ecosystem Restoration, signed on November 15, 2021. It is a historic investment in the restoration and protection of the environment. Learn more here.