Science-Based Riparian Restoration Planning on the Colorado and Dolores Rivers: A Decision Support Tool and Investigation of Habitat Complexity at Tributary Junctions Study Area Map

Stream flow in the Colorado River and Dolores River corridors has been significantly modified by water management, and continued flow alteration is anticipated in future decades with projected increases in human water demand. Bottomland vegetation has been altered as well, with invasion of non-native species, increases in wildfire and human disturbance, and currently, rapid shifts in riparian communities due to biological and mechanical tamarisk control efforts. In light of these conditions, land managers are in need of scientific information to support management of vegetation communities for values such as healthy populations of sensitive fish and wildlife species and human recreation. We propose to address these applied science needs by: