Melissa McMaster Restoration Coordinator . wildlife habitat . specific threatened and endangered species habitat . grazing . shade . recreation . water storage . fire risk reduction . community stewardship . ecosystem resiliency

. Depth to groundwater . Soil & Water Salinity . Soil texture . Channel characteristics . Scouring potential . Inundation potential . Topography . Access . Maintenance and Monitoring

Ideal site conditions in the arid southwest . Soil & Water Salinity . Different for each species but most have low tolerance for salinity . Bottom of hole most critical . Soil texture . Avoid cobbles and coarse textured soils . Soil requirements . 2-3’ aerated soil above capillary fringe . Aerobic soil . Don’t plant if you see blue/black/mucky anaerobic soils . Understand site hydrology . Avoid areas where water levels fluctuate considerably . Don’t want poles to get flooded out . Look for old channels . Depth to groundwater . Plant when groundwater at its lowest . Groundwater well installation

. Goals are set . Site Assessment is complete . What to plant?

. Planting Plan Components . Designated zones for different planting schemes . Plant/seed species . Planting specifications . Planting protocols . Supplies/gear

R9 Planting Plan Total Plants for R9: Plant Species Size Day 1 QTY Day 1 Planted Day 2 QTY Day 2 Planted Prosopis velutina Velvet Mesquite 14 in or long 36 Sporobolus wrightii Giant Sacaton 14 in 27 Datura wrightii Datura 14 in 27 Salix gooddingii Goodding’s Willow long 8 R9 Planting Specifications *Leave road access unplanted General Planting Notes *Plant Sacaton in clumps/groups of 2- *Walk throughout site and place plants according to specifications along with pin flags in 3, spaced 5-6 ft. apart desired planting areas and clear a 3-5 ft. diameter area of weeds- set aside any mulch *Plant Datura in clumps/groups of 2-3, to be used later. *Once plants are laid out, dig a ~16 in. diameter hole that is a few inches deeper than spaced 4-5 ft apart the soil mass of the potted plant. *Plant Goodding’s willow in areas *All holes should be soaked prior to planting. marked orange on the map and at *Planting: Remove the plant from pot, handling from the stems, not roots. Plant immidiently to minimize root exposure. least 5 ft. from the bank and at least Compact soil to eliminate air pockets and create good stem to soil contact. 15 ft. apart *If capillary fringe is disrupted, place root mass along the side of the hole to encourage *If Goodding’s willows are planted in capillary refill to the roots. an area marked blue, make sure they *Basins and berms should be installed around each plant to hold as much water as possible. are deep enough to reach the *Mulch and/or organic material should be placed within basin to retain water. capillary fringe. *Water all trees with a 5 gallon bucket, and 2.5 gallons for shrubs and forbs. *Plant mesquite in areas marked green Trim trees so there is a maximum of 24 in. above ground. on the map and 15-30 ft. apart

Check List • Hand pruners • Shovels • Buckets • Trowel • Rock bar • Auger • Post hole digger • Wheel barrow • Pin flags • Sharpies • Tree shelter • Wood stake • Zip ties • Gloves • Safety glasses • First aid kit • Drinking water • Ear pros • Hoses

Phreatophytes . Mesic Riparian- feet in the water table! . Cottonwood . Goodding’s willow . Coyote willow

. Xeric Riparian . Mesquite . Acacia . Hackberry . Wolfberry . Sumac . Hackberry

. Pollinators- NAU study

Most Tolerant Four wing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) Moderately Tolerant Wolfberry (Lycium torreyi) Screwbean mesquite (Prosopis pubescens) Willow baccharis (Baccharis salicina) Somewhat Tolerant Goodding’s willow (Salix gooddingii) Not Tolerant Rio Grande cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

Source: Taylor and McDaniel 1998 . Seeding . Broadcast . Seed balls . Drill . Planting . Nursery stock . Pole planting . Longstem/tall pots

Longstems will be much more successful in southern AZ! Planning for drought Less need for supplemental irrigation

. Longstem plants are typically planted so that the bottom of the root ball is just at the top of (but not into) the water table at its low/lowest level for the year. . If you are not planting at the lowest water table of the year, then plant into the water table . Best to drill until water table is found; then plant directly above . Depending on depth to water, may need to dig deep tree wells

. Rooted longstem/tallpot materials . Typically September – March

. Un-rooted tree stems (poles) planted in direct contact with the water table . Woody riparian species . Cottonwoods and willows most common . Harvest when dormant . Form adventitious roots at stem nodes Benefits . Limits need for supplemental irrigation . Time . Source populations? . Dormant collection . Early spring often best, although can be harvested earlier

. If possible, collect from areas near your project location to capture genetic stock most suitable to your site . If wildland collecting, do not harvest more than 40% of any given stand. . Size – need to consider planting equipment and depth to water . Cottonwoods:10-16’ long; 2-3” in dia. . Willows – 5-12’ long; <1” dia.

. Smooth bark from unstressed, healthy plants

. Prune all side branches approximately 1/8” away from main stem . High moisture regime - leave 7-8 branches . Limited moisture – leave 2-3 to minimize transpiration . Cut the bottom at an angle to assist with planting . Bundle and tag poles with date/location drawing: cals.arizona.edu . 24 hours of soaking at minimum but 1 week best . Store bottom of poles/whips in water or soak the entire pole until ready to plant . For longer periods, poles should be kept in cold storage at ~ 32-39 degrees F . Can be stored up to 3 months . Water should be changed if it starts to take on an odor; typically 3-4 weeks

. Cottonwood poles and willow whips need to be dormant . Typically Dec-March

. Hand or gasoline powered augers . Tractor or excavator mounted auger . Stinger bar (waterjet or excavator powered) . May need to dig a hole first . Tree well . Access to water table

Final step in planting a cottonwood Vegetation Monitoring . Estimated veg cover . Weed infestations . Natural recruitment . Survival rates of planting . Assess goal status . Wildlife usage . Lessons learned Cottonwood and willow pole plantings . 50 to 90 percent . Sample size of more than 10,000 during a 20-year period

Shrub and tree ‘Longstem’ Deep Plantings . 70 to 97 percent . Sample size of more than 7,000 during an 8-year period

Principal factors affecting survival . Depth and fluctuation of the water table . Soil texture and salinity, especially at the bottom of the hole

Long-term inundation (more than 30 days).

Annual and perennial weed infestation. Livestock and wildlife browsing

Improper planting (soil/stem contact) Fire . Treatment of tamarisk in patches . Initially, sites that are 3-19 acres in size . Smaller sizes in the future . SWFL and Yellow-billed cuckoo are present . Treatment will consist of buffer zones around nesting sites. Done in conjunction with USFWS and bird biologists. . Work will be done outside SWFL breeding season . October– March . Secondary Weed treatments . Kochia is an issue . Revegetation Approaches . Cottonwood and coyote willow pole plantings . Longstem mesquite, Goodding’s willow, cottonwoods and coyote willow . Applying mulch and soil inoculum treatment . Incorporate pollinator habitat into revegetation http://www.riversedgewest.org/resource-center

Thank you.

Melissa McMaster [email protected]