Nostalgia & History > SP Forest

To combat blowing sand between Indio and West Palm Springs the Southern Pacific planted rows
of tamarisk (salt cedar) trees. The trees did an excellent job but since they're designated
an invasive species the SP soon found out that they grew like weeds and sucked up every bit of
water. In recent years the housing build up has allowed the trees to be cut back but here in
November 1987 the 7524W cruises along through the rather verdant forest,

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/14 14:13 by callum_out.

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That does look like a forest. Not somewhere that reaches 115-120 degrees. Love those old SP pics!

It is compared to what else was growing down there!

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Probably weren't designated as an invasive species when they were planted.
Be interesting to know how long between planting and that designation.

Ran across tamarisk trees a while back. Apparently, in the setting of the OP's pic (dry desert) they aren't really a problem. Put them where annual precipitation is much higher and watch out.

For a period of time the SP ran a water train to irrigate the things.

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