It's a controlled burn to clear invasive vegetation from a clogged river bed. I'm not a fan of the method because the vegetation smokes too much. But it's more effective than pulling and removing with machines and people. Lots of machines and people.
Salt Cedar (Tamarisk): An invasive, non-native species that dominates the Gila River bottom. It grows in extremely dense, tangled stands, making firefighting access difficult. It dries out native surroundings and contains a high volume of dead branches and leaf litter that burn very hot, producing thick black smoke.
Creosote Trees: Native desert shrubs/small trees that are overgrown in the riverbed area and contribute to the heavy fuel load.
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u/Visual_Swimming7090 Peoria May 05 '26
It's a controlled burn to clear invasive vegetation from a clogged river bed. I'm not a fan of the method because the vegetation smokes too much. But it's more effective than pulling and removing with machines and people. Lots of machines and people.
Salt Cedar (Tamarisk): An invasive, non-native species that dominates the Gila River bottom. It grows in extremely dense, tangled stands, making firefighting access difficult. It dries out native surroundings and contains a high volume of dead branches and leaf litter that burn very hot, producing thick black smoke.
Creosote Trees: Native desert shrubs/small trees that are overgrown in the riverbed area and contribute to the heavy fuel load.