The Russians are Coming!

Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) on Eldorado Creek, outside Dayton, Nevada. (It's the tree in the center with thin greenish-gray leaves.) These trees had already been imported as ornamentals and for slope stabilization by the late 19th century--we even have some in our yard--but have since become another notorious invader weed. They tend to crowd out the native willow and cottonwood in these drainages. Of course, as usual they were introduced with The Best of Intentions--