Woody Phreatophyte Infestation of the Middle Brazos River Flood Plain

Abstract

Sixty-four percent of the Brazos River flood plain upstream from Possum Kingdom Lake to the confluence of its Salt and Double Mountain forks is occupied by woody phreatophytes. Saltcedar dominated communities are found on 36% and mesquite on 17%. Saltcedar acreage increased significantly from 1940 to 1969, but mesquite did not. At 1969 densities, these two species used approximately 51,000 acre feet of water annually along this expanse of the river.