Effects of Soil Salinity on Pole Planting Success in a Restored Wetland

Session: 37th Annual Undergraduate Research Exhibition Sponsored by Sigma Gamma Epsilon (Posters)

Presenting Author:

Authors:

Abstract:

Historically, snowmelt during spring from the San Juan Mountains in Colorado supplied the Rio Grande with water that created diverse ecosystems in the region. These intense seasonal pulses of water would meander through the river, shifting the banks, creating damp sandy soil where the seeds from native riparian species would germinate into Cottonwood-Willow forests. Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, located in Southeast El Paso, TX, was such a habitat until the river was channelized and rerouted, making the water unavailable at the park. Without the natural seasonal floods from the Rio Grande, establishing riparian galleries has become more difficult. Since 1997, a long-term ecological project has focused on restoring these historic river valley conditions using treated wastewater, irrigation water, and groundwater. In the winter of 2025, a mix of Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni (n=11) and Salix gooddingii (n=4) were strategically planted along the old river channel. Pole plantings were watered twice a week during the winter, then three times a week in the summer. Five out of 11 P. deltoides ssp. wislizeni and two out of four S. gooddingii were successfully established, resulting in a 47% success rate overall. Here, we look at the effects of soil salinity, soil texture, and nutrient levels on pole planting success by surveying the electromagnetic induction along the old river channel where these trees are planted. Preliminary results from testing the electrical conductivity of the topsoil-water slurry suggest that pole plantings have a lower success rate in soils with higher salt content. Surveys of the old river channel using an EM38 are ongoing to better assess the park’s current salinity levels at various depths. With constant uncertainty of water availability and climate change, this work will help park managers understand ideal conditions and locations to establish riparian trees at Rio Bosque Wetlands Park.