Backyard Creek Restoration

The town of Moab exists because of the freshwater creeks that come off the La Sal Mountains into the alluvial fan the town was built on. We talk with Kara Dohrenwend about the science and efforts behind revitalizing creek corridors in Moab, including the history, current challenges, and strategic restoration plans for Moab’s creeks. A key part of the restoration includes the removal of invasive species like Russian olive and tamarisk, which are replaced with native vegetation to mitigate fire hazards and improve ecological health. These projects also aim to manage flooding in Mill and Pack Creeks by stabilizing creek banks and facilitating better flood control.

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Science Moab · Backyard Creek Restoration

Recovery After Fire

Given the increasing temperatures and aridity, the fate of pinyon-juniper woodlands on the Colorado Plateau is uncertain. We talk with Rebecca Finger-Higgens, Ecologist with the US Geological Survey, about the recovery of the pinyon-juniper woodlands in the La Sal Mountains following the Pack Creek Fire of 2021. Rebecca tackles the question of whether pre-fire forest thinning programs and post-fire seeding and erosion control expedite pinyon-juniper forest recovery.

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Science Moab · Recovery After Fire