Tamarisk Control and Riparian Restoration Act

The Tamarisk Control and Riparian Restoration Act (S. 1236) aims to combat the spread of tamarisk, an invasive shrub that consumes large amounts of water and displaces native vegetation along rivers in the Western United States. The bill directs the Department of the Interior to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the infestation and establishes a grant program to help states fund removal and restoration projects. For citizens, this legislation is designed to protect local water supplies, reduce wildfire risks associated with dense invasive thickets, and restore natural habitats for recreation and wildlife.