Nonnative Species

Salt cedar (Tamarisk)

The park has an aggressive program to control exotic plant species, particularly tamarisk. Also known as salt cedar, this shrub has impacted all major river systems in the western United States. The National Park Service's Invasive Plant Management Team has provided significant support for this project. As of June, 2004, all 350+ acres that originally infested the park had been eradicated. Scientists with the Southern Plains Network collect long-term data on exotic plants at Bent’s Old Fort.

Other weeds of concern on site are Russian knapweed, Canada thistle, whitetop, kochia, and bindweed. They are controlled using Integrated Pest Management principles.