Assigned to NREW FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR H.C.M. 2006
urging eradication; salt cedars; waterways
Purpose
Urges the U.S. Congress to appropriate monies to Arizona for the eradication of salt cedars
from Arizona waterways and develop innovative solutions to control the proliferation of salt
cedars.
Background
The salt cedar tree is an invasive species that was introduced during the 1800s as an
ornamental plant for erosion control. The salt cedar lowers water tables through its deep roots and
creates large deposits of salt in the soil by taking up salt from deep underground then filtering out
the salt through the leaves that are then dropped on the ground which builds up salt on top of the
soil (USDA; USFS). A salt cedar can use about 200 gallons of water a day (NPS). At the inflows
of the Salt and Verde River reservoirs, salt cedars have taken root in the deep silt deposits because
the water levels fluctuate too regularly for native trees such as the cottonwood and willow (USFS).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Urges the U.S. Congress to appropriate monies to Arizona to eradicate salt cedars from Arizona
waterways.
2. Urges the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop
innovative solutions to control the proliferation of salt cedars.
3. Directs the Secretary of State to transmit copies of the Memorial to the U.S. President, the
President of the U.S. Senate, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Secretary
of the Interior, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and each member of
Congress from the State of Arizona.
House Action
NREW 1/31/23 DP 9-1-0-0
3
rd
Read 2/21/23 47-13-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 28, 2023
RA/SF/slp