Download

Download Full Text (5.6 MB)

Keywords

saltcedar, invasive, shoreline, lake, salt cedar, tamarisk, Nevada, Las Vegas

Abstract

The prolonged megadrought in Southern Nevada has exposed thousands of acres of former lakebed at Lake Mead, creating an expanding frontier for the invasive shrub Tamarix ramosissima, commonly known as saltcedar. This hardy, non-native species rapidly colonizes the receding shoreline, siphoning up to 200 gallons of water per plant daily and outcompeting native vegetation. Utilizing high-resolution satellite imagery from 2020 and 2025, this research found that saltcedar coverage within a 5 km radius of the lake increased by approximately 76.7%.

Analysis of the spatial data indicates that while the total area of infestation has exploded, the average distance of saltcedar from the shoreline increased by only 13.16%, suggesting the plant "chases" the receding water's edge. The most significant expansion occurred in the nutrient-dense, low-sloped Overton Arm, while the rocky, steep terrain of the Boulder Basin saw less horizontal encroachment. To mitigate further water loss and habitat degradation, the study recommends a targeted removal strategy that prioritizes mechanical eradication of seedlings at the leading shoreline edge combined with native revegetation to foster long-term biodiversity and suppression.

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

2026-04-09

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Geography

University Standing at Time of Publication

Senior

Course

GEOG 307

Where's Our Water? Invasive Saltcedar's Thirsty Trek Across the Shoreline of Lake Mead

Included in

Geography Commons

Share

COinS