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certainly conflict with state and federal nondegradation policies. 



One method of saline water control is to collect saline dis- 

 charges in sealed ponds and to allow the water to evaporate, leaving 

 the salts behind. This method would disturb a considerable amount of 

 land and would probably not be economically feasible (16). 



Another method of managing seep water in discharge areas 

 is to establish stands of salt-tolerant phreatophytes. One candidate is 

 five-stamen tamarisk (Tamarix pentandra), a decidious tree native to 

 Eurasia whose root system sometimes extends 90 feet or more down 

 to the water table. This species has spread with explosive speed 

 through the drainage systems of the Southwest. Other nonspreading 

 Tamarix species may be more desirable. 



Nevertheless, native plants should be considered before 

 contemplating introductions. More likely candidates from area flora 

 include saltgrass (Distichlis stricta), picklewood (Salicornia rubra), 

 and species of Suaeda or seep weed. Kochia and foxtail barley (Hor- 

 deumjubatum) naturally take over seep areas but occupy only the dry 

 fringes. 



These and other steps may be necessary to prevent the progressive 

 depletion of the soil resource base of northeastern Montana and other 

 glaciated lands of the northern Great Plains. In the words of State 

 Senator George Darrow, saline seep is 



