American River Watershed Research Paper

Invasive Plants in our Watershed
The watershed my partner and I chose to implement techniques to eliminate invasive plant species is the American River watershed. The American River drainage covers 1900 square miles of the Tahoe and El Dorado National Forests, including the Granite Chief Wilderness and Desolation Wilderness. Flowing west from the peaks of the northern Sierra Nevada west of Lake Tahoe, its streams gradually converge into the South, Middle and North Forks of the American River. It is a classic multi-use watershed, supporting mining, hydroelectric generation, timber cultivation, and many forms of recreation.
A major concern in the Watershed is the presence of Invasive plants. These plant species have caused many problems with native species and seek dominance over plants similar to themselves. Invasive plants are introduced species that can thrive in areas beyond their natural range of dispersal. These plants are characteristically adaptable, aggressive, and have a high reproductive capacity. Their vigor combined with a lack of natural enemies often leads to an outbreak in
Through the foundation we would be able to organize a competition with a reward to whoever removes the largest quantity of invasive plants. According to the American River Parkway Foundation’s website, the foundation has removed many acres of invasive plants over the past five years due to a large volunteer effort in the community. Some of the species the foundation has targeted include: the Red Sesbania, Spanish Broom, French Broom, Scotch Broom, and Tamarisk, to name a few. My partner and I believe that this foundation is the most suitable for our project because they are already in touch with the community and would able to aid us in organizing an