Trial and error: assessing the effectiveness of riparian revegetation in Arizona

Many riparian ecosystems in the Southwest are in trouble. The effects of agriculture, dam construction, groundwater pumping, livestock grazing, urbanization, and other human activities have led to the rapid decline of many southwestern riparian vegetation communities. Hall and Bammon observed that 22 of Arizona's 27 native fish are federally classified as being in danger of extinction; this is probably as good an indicator as any of the decline of Arizona's riparian areas. Concern over the plight of riparian ecosystems in the Southwest has resulted in the development of various conservation strategies specifically designed to reclaim these valuable ecosystems. One such strategy, coined "riparian revegetation," involves planting trees, shrubs, forbs, and grasses in degraded riparian ecosystems. Once established, such plantings can help to replace lost riparian vegetation.